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This Digest was prepared for debate. It reflects the legislation as introduced
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CONTENTS
Passage
History
Purpose
Main Provisions
Concluding
Comments
Endnotes
Contact
Officer & Copyright Details
Education Services for Overseas Students (Consequential and Transitional) Bill 2000
House: House of Representatives
Portfolio: Education, Training and Youth Affairs
Commencement: Sections 1 and 2 commence on Royal Assent. Most of the remaining provisions commence on Proclamation or six months after Royal Assent, which ever occurs first. However, commencement of Schedule 4 is dependent upon commencement of changes to the legislation establishing the Administrative Appeals Tribunal.
This Bill is associated with a number of related Bills. The whole package is as follows:
|
Education Services for Overseas Students Bill 2000 |
|
Education Services for Overseas Students (Assurance Fund Contributions) Bill 2000 |
|
Education Services for Overseas Students (Consequential and Transitional) Bill 2000 |
|
Education Services for Overseas Students (Registration Charges) Amendment Bill 2000 |
|
Migration Legislation Amendment (Overseas Students) Bill 2000 |
A complete background to the context surround this legislative package is provided in the Bills Digest to the Education Services for Overseas Students Bill 2000.
The purpose of this Bill is to:
Schedule 1 repeals the ESOS Act and amends the Registration Act to substitute a reference to the proposed Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000.
Application and Transitional Matters
Schedule 2 deals with application and transitional matters.
Item 1 deals with the application of certain obligations on registered providers under proposed sections 19, 20 and 21 of the Principal Bill. These obligations relate to
The Minister must publish a notice in the Gazette, and write to each registered provider, specifying the starting day for these obligations (and giving at least 28 days notice). Generally the obligations arise in relation to events occurring on or after the starting day. However, the Minister may postpone the application of these obligations in relation to changes in studies or courses and student visa breaches. He or she may also allow existing registered providers extra time to comply with record keeping requirements.
Item 2 carries over details regarding a provider's registration or suspension status.
Item 3 permits the National Code to allow existing registered providers extra time to comply with code requirements.
Item 4 deals with the application of requirements relating to the ESOS Assurance Fund. Generally, the existing notified trust account (NTA) arrangements continue to apply until the commencement and application of the Assurance Fund provisions in the Principal Bill.
These Assurance Fund provisions commence on Proclamation or six months after Royal Assent. However, requirements they impose apply to 2001 and later years (item 4(2)). The Minister may postpone these requirements so that they apply in 2002 and later years (item 4(3)) and the NTA arrangements continue to apply in the interim (item 4(4)).
Item 5 revokes trust obligations relating to course monies held in notified trust accounts following the repeal of the ESOS Act.
Item 6 provides for regulations relating to transitional measures.
Schedule 3 amends the Migration Act 1958 to permit cooperation between the Departments of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (DIMA) and Education, Employment Training and Youth Affairs (DETYA).
Section 488 of the Migration Act 1958 deals with access to information kept by DIMA 'for the purposes of [the Migration Act 1958] in relation to the entry of persons into, and departure of persons from, Australia'. Access and use of such information is prohibited.
However the DIMA Minister may authorise a DIMA officer to read, examine, reproduce, use or disclose such information for a range of listed purposes including immigration, customs and excise, quarantine or health, and law enforcement (sub-paragraphs 488(2)(a)(i)-(v)). He or she may also authorise an officer from other listed agencies to perform actions but only for a purpose relevant to that agency (paras 488(2)(b)-(e)).(1)
Part 1 deals with disclosure of migration information.
Item 1 expands the range of purposes for which information may be accessed and used. It includes disclosure for the purposes of the ESOS Act (proposed sub-para 488(2)(a)(vi)) and for 'prescribed Commonwealth, State or Territory legislation' (proposed sub-para 488(2)(a)(vii)). In this way, it permits the DIMA Minister to prescribe by regulations the relevant State and Territory legislation relating to education services for overseas students.
Item 2 expands the range of officers that may be authorised for access and use. It includes DETYA officers (proposed sub-para 488(2)(f))(2) and prescribed employees of prescribed agencies of the Commonwealth, State or Territory (proposed sub-para 488(2)(g)).
Part 2
Item 4 extends the power to make regulations under the Migration Act 1958 to include purposes associated with the amendments in Part 1.
Schedule 4 amends the proposed ESOS Act in order to make adjustments in terminology that would be required following enactment of the Administrative Review Tribunal Bill 2000.
One matter is worth noting in relation to the proposed migration amendments. The power to expand by regulation the range of purposes and officers associated with access and use of migration information may significantly alter the current arrangements. As indicated, the power to permit access and use is tightly controlled and limited in respect of particular legislation and particular agencies. Yet, the amendments permit the Government to add by regulation other legislation and agencies, including State and Territory legislation and agencies, without any necessary link with education services or other existing subjects.
Nathan Hancock
31 October 2000
Bills Digest Service
Information and Research Services
This paper has been prepared for general distribution to Senators and Members of the Australian Parliament. While great care is taken to ensure that the paper is accurate and balanced, the paper is written using information publicly available at the time of production. The views expressed are those of the author and should not be attributed to the Information and Research Services (IRS). Advice on legislation or legal policy issues contained in this paper is provided for use in parliamentary debate and for related parliamentary purposes. This paper is not professional legal opinion. Readers are reminded that the paper is not an official parliamentary or Australian government document.
ISSN 1328-8091
Commonwealth of Australia 2000
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Published by the Department of the Parliamentary Library, 2000.