Karen McNamara (Dobell, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the

Opposition Members:

Opposition members interjecting—

Karen McNamara (Dobell, Liberal Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

How are the numbers going, Pat?

Honourable members interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Members will cease interjecting. The minister has the call.

Luke Hartsuyker (Cowper, National Party, Deputy Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I thank the good member for her question, and I am concerned to hear about her constituent being misled into signing up for a particular course of study. Unfortunately, we saw too much of this behaviour as a result of Labor's failures when it made changes to the VET FEE-HELP scheme. That is why we acted swiftly to stamp out these behaviours and restore the integrity of the VET FEE-HELP system. That is why we banned the payment of inducements, to prevent students being duped into signing up for a course; that is why we banned withdrawal fees, which prevented students from withdrawing from a course; that is why we banned misleading statements, such as claiming that a particular course was free or government funded when everybody knows that they are not; and that is why we introduced rules so that students were not hit with an up-front course fee. Rather, now those course fees are accrued during the life of the course, a much more equitable outcome.

We have before the House a bill which provides additional protections for students, greater protections for those under the age of 18, and a two-day cooling-off period to prevent high pressure sales tactics.

Mr Husic interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Chifley is now warned.

Luke Hartsuyker (Cowper, National Party, Deputy Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The bill requires that students have the necessary educational prerequisites before they enter into a course.

Mr Albanese interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Grayndler will cease interjecting.

Luke Hartsuyker (Cowper, National Party, Deputy Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It is vital as we go forward that we have a strong and vibrant VET sector that delivers quality training to the people of Australia and helps them into jobs. Today I had the pleasure of releasing the total VET activity report with Professor Shergold, which shows clearly the strength and size of the VET sector. One in four Australians of working age are participating in VET, some 3.9 million Australians. VET makes a massive contribution to this nation, and that is why the government has acted—

Mr Albanese interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Grayndler will cease interjecting.

Luke Hartsuyker (Cowper, National Party, Deputy Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

to restore the integrity of the VET FEE-HELP program. I certainly thank the members opposite for their support of the bill before the House, but I will ask my department to investigate the concerns of the member for Dobell, and I will report back to her so that she can pass that on to her constituent. I encourage anyone who feels that they have been misled into signing up for a course or they have been the subject of pressure tactics by a training provider to certainly contact the complaints hotline. We are about a quality VET sector that meets the needs of Australians and helps them into jobs.

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Point of order.

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

No, the minister—

Mr Dutton interjecting—

I have not called anyone yet. The minister will resume his seat. The Minister for Immigration and Border Protection will not interject.

Luke Hartsuyker (Cowper, National Party, Deputy Leader of the House) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I have concluded.

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The minister for immigration will not interject.

Mr Tony Burke (Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Under standing order 1, we are willing to provide leave for him to finish reading out what he had typed up.

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Member for Watson, that is a frivolous point of order. I have warned members about frivolous points of order.

Mr Husic interjecting—

The member for Chifley has been warned!