Senate debates

Thursday, 18 June 2020

Bills

National Skills Commissioner Bill 2020; Second Reading

3:30 pm

Photo of Scott RyanScott Ryan (President) Share this | | Hansard source

In accordance with the resolution agreed to earlier today, I will now put the questions required to dispose of the remaining items of business in that order. I will deal first with the National Skills Commissioner Bill 2020. The question is that the bill be read a second time.

Question agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

3:31 pm

Photo of Mathias CormannMathias Cormann (WA, Liberal Party, Vice-President of the Executive Council) Share this | | Hansard source

I table a supplementary memorandum relating to the government amendments to this bill.

Photo of Scott RyanScott Ryan (President) Share this | | Hansard source

The question is that the amendments on sheet QP108 circulated by the government be agreed to.

Government's circulated amendments—

(1) Clause 5, page 4 (line 11), after "investment in VET", insert ", VET in regional, rural and remote Australia".

[functions]

(2) Clause 7, page 5 (line 4), omit "and".

[functions]

(3) Clause 7, page 5 (after line 4), at the end of paragraph (1) (a), add:

(vi) opportunities to improve access, skills development and choice for regional, rural and remote Australia in relation to VET; and

[functions]

Question agreed to.

I will now deal with the amendments circulated by the Australian Greens.

Photo of Mehreen FaruqiMehreen Faruqi (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | | Hansard source

Our amendment on sheet 8975 is very similar to the government amendment which has just passed, and it was one that Dr Helen Haines introduced in the other place. I seek leave to withdraw that amendment.

Leave granted.

Photo of Scott RyanScott Ryan (President) Share this | | Hansard source

The question now is that the amendment on sheet 8977 revised, circulated by the Australian Greens, be agreed to.

Australian Greens' circulated amendment—

(1) Clause 9, page 6 (after line 16), after subclause (3), insert:

Requirement for vocational education and training representative

(3A) There must be at least one member of each advisory committee who is employed by or is a representative of a body established to provide vocational education or training under one of the following:

(a) the Technical and Further Education Commission Act 1990 (NSW);

(b) the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 (Vic.);

(c) the TAFE Queensland Act 2013 (Qld);

(d) the Vocational Education and Training Act 1996 (WA);

(e) the TAFE SA Act 2012 (SA);

(f) the Training and Workforce Development Act 2013 (Tas.);

(g) the Canberra Institute of Technology Act 1987 (ACT);

(h) the Charles Darwin University Act 2003 (NT).

Note: To avoid doubt, a member appointed by the Minister under paragraph (h) must be employed by, or a representative of, the University in relation to its function of providing trade, technical or other vocational education.

[advisory committees—TAFE body representative]

3:39 pm

Photo of Scott RyanScott Ryan (President) Share this | | Hansard source

The question is that the opposition amendment on sheet 8978 be agreed to.

The opposition circulated the amendment—

(1) Clause 9, page 6 (after line 16), after subclause (3), insert:

Requirement for representatives nominated by employer and employee representative groups

(3A) On each advisory committee there must be at least:

(a) one member who has been nominated for appointment by the Australian Council of Trade Unions; and

(b) one member who has been nominated for appointment by an employer organisation (within the meaning of the Fair Work Act 2009 ).