Scott Ryan (Victoria, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

Senator Carr, I disagree with your assertion in the first part of the question that the challenges this sector is facing are as a result of changes and policy implemented last December by the coalition government or indeed earlier last year by the previous minister, Senator Birmingham. All VET providers are required to have tuition assurance arrangements in place under the Higher Education Support Act, except those who are exempt. In almost all cases tuition assurance is provided by the two tuition schemes currently approved. They are administered by the Australian Council for Private Education and Training and TAFE Directors Australia. ACPET and TDA have the full details of the tuition assurance coverage of their members. It is only for students currently enrolled in units of study. My department undertakes compliance monitoring of the tuition assurance status of the providers. It is currently involved in a number of major compliance investigations but it would be premature to comment on the details at this stage.