Commonwealth Numbered Acts Commonwealth Numbered Acts
No. 12, 2011
Contents
Division 1--Preliminary 2
1............ Short title............................................................................................. 2
2............ Commencement................................................................................... 2
Division 2--Definitions 4
3............ Definitions.......................................................................................... 4
Division 3--Constitutional basis for this Act and the Transitional Act 12
4............ Constitutional basis for this Act and the Transitional Act................. 12
5............ Meaning of referring State................................................................ 13
6............ Meaning of referred VET matters..................................................... 16
7............ Meaning of non-referring State........................................................ 17
8............ When application of this Act takes effect.......................................... 18
9............ Immunity from State and Territory laws........................................... 19
10.......... When this Act does not apply--exclusion by a law of a referring State or a Territory 20
11.......... Addressing inconsistency between Commonwealth and State and Territory laws 21
Division 4--General application of this Act and the Transitional Act 22
12.......... Acts bind the Crown......................................................................... 22
13.......... Acts not to apply so as to exceed Commonwealth power................. 22
14.......... Extension of Acts to external Territories........................................... 23
15.......... Extra-territorial application................................................................ 23
Part 2--Registration 24
Division 1--Registering as an NVR registered training organisation 24
Subdivision A--Applying for registration 24
16.......... Application for registration............................................................... 24
17.......... Registration....................................................................................... 24
18.......... National VET Regulator to notify applicant of decision on registration 25
19.......... National VET Regulator to issue certificate of registration................ 26
20.......... Commencement and duration of registration..................................... 26
Subdivision B--Conditions of registration 27
21.......... Complying with conditions............................................................... 27
22.......... Condition--compliance with the VET Quality Framework.............. 27
23.......... Condition--satisfying Fit and Proper Person Requirements............. 27
24.......... Condition--satisfying the Financial Viability Risk Assessment Requirements 27
25.......... Condition--notifying National VET Regulator of material changes. 27
26.......... Condition--other information must be provided............................... 28
27.......... Condition--cooperation.................................................................... 28
28.......... Condition--compliance with directions given by the National VET Regulator 28
29.......... Other conditions................................................................................ 29
30.......... National VET Regulator to notify NVR registered training organisation of change in conditions of registration 29
Subdivision C--Renewing registration 29
31.......... Renewal of registration..................................................................... 29
Division 2--Changing the scope of registration 31
32.......... Application for change of scope of registration................................. 31
33.......... Change of scope of registration......................................................... 31
34.......... National VET Regulator to notify applicant of decision on change of scope of registration 32
Division 3--Ensuring compliance with the VET Quality Framework 33
Subdivision A--Audits 33
35.......... Audits............................................................................................... 33
Subdivision B--Administrative sanctions 33
36.......... Sanctions........................................................................................... 33
37.......... Natural justice requirements.............................................................. 34
38.......... Suspension........................................................................................ 35
39.......... Cancellation....................................................................................... 35
40.......... Other enforcement action.................................................................. 36
Division 4--Requests for reassessment 37
41.......... Requests for reassessment................................................................ 37
Division 5--Withdrawing registration 38
42.......... Withdrawing registration................................................................... 38
Part 3--Accreditation of courses 39
Division 1--Applying for accreditation 39
43.......... Application for accreditation............................................................. 39
44.......... Accreditation of course..................................................................... 39
45.......... National VET Regulator to notify applicant of decision on accreditation of course 40
46.......... Commencement and duration of accreditation................................... 40
Division 2--Conditions of accreditation 42
47.......... Complying with conditions............................................................... 42
48.......... Conditions......................................................................................... 42
49.......... National VET Regulator to notify relevant person of change in conditions of accreditation 42
Division 3--Renewing accreditation 43
50.......... Renewal of accreditation................................................................... 43
Division 4--Amending VET accredited courses 44
51.......... Amending VET accredited courses................................................... 44
Division 5--Cancelling accreditation 45
52.......... Cancelling accreditation..................................................................... 45
53.......... National VET Regulator to notify relevant persons of proposed cancellation 46
54.......... When cancellation takes effect........................................................... 46
Part 4--National VET Regulator's power to issue and cancel VET qualifications etc. 47
Division 1--Issue of VET qualifications and VET statements of attainment 47
55.......... National VET Regulator may issue VET qualifications and VET statements of attainment 47
Division 2--Cancellation of VET qualifications and VET statements of attainment 48
Subdivision A--Cancellation 48
56.......... National VET Regulator may cancel VET qualifications and VET statements of attainment 48
57.......... National VET Regulator to notify person concerned of proposed cancellation 49
58.......... National VET Regulator's consideration of response....................... 50
59.......... When cancellation takes effect........................................................... 51
Subdivision B--Civil penalties 51
60.......... Civil penalty--failure to return VET qualification or VET statement of attainment 51
61.......... Civil penalty--use of cancelled VET qualification or VET statement of attainment 53
Part 5--Investigative powers 54
Division 1--Requiring people to give information and produce documents or things 54
Subdivision A--Requests by National VET Regulator 54
62.......... Request to person who is, or was, connected with a registered training organisation 54
63.......... National VET Regulator may retain documents and things............... 55
Subdivision B--Offence and related provisions 55
64.......... Failure to comply with National VET Regulator's request................ 55
65.......... Self-incrimination etc........................................................................ 55
Division 2--Searches of premises 57
Subdivision A--Exercising monitoring or enforcement powers 57
66.......... Authorised officer may enter premises by consent or under a warrant 57
67.......... Monitoring powers of authorised officers......................................... 57
68.......... Enforcement powers of authorised officers....................................... 60
69.......... Persons assisting authorised officers................................................ 62
70.......... Use of force in executing a warrant................................................... 62
71.......... Authorised officer may ask questions and seek production of documents 63
Subdivision B--Obligations and incidental powers of authorised officers 64
72.......... Consent............................................................................................. 64
73.......... Announcement before entry under warrant....................................... 64
74.......... Authorised officer to be in possession of warrant............................. 65
75.......... Details of warrant etc. to be given to occupier................................... 65
76.......... Expert assistance to operate electronic equipment............................. 66
77.......... Compensation for damage to electronic equipment........................... 68
Subdivision C--Occupier's rights and responsibilities 69
78.......... Occupier entitled to observe execution of warrant............................. 69
79.......... Occupier to provide authorised officer with facilities and assistance. 69
Subdivision D--General provisions relating to seizure 69
80.......... Copies of seized things to be provided.............................................. 69
81.......... Receipts for things seized.................................................................. 70
82.......... Return of seized things...................................................................... 70
83.......... Magistrate may permit a thing to be retained..................................... 71
84.......... Disposal of things............................................................................. 72
Subdivision E--Warrants 72
85.......... Monitoring warrants......................................................................... 72
86.......... Issue of enforcement warrants.......................................................... 74
87.......... Enforcement warrants by telephone, fax etc...................................... 75
88.......... Offence relating to warrants by telephone, fax etc............................. 77
Subdivision F--Appointment of authorised officers and issue of identity cards 77
89.......... Appointment of authorised officers................................................... 77
90.......... Identity cards..................................................................................... 78
Subdivision G--Powers of magistrates 79
91.......... Federal Magistrates--consent to nomination.................................... 79
92.......... Magistrates--personal capacity......................................................... 79
Part 6--Enforcement 80
Division 1--Offences and civil penalty provisions 80
Subdivision A--Conduct by NVR registered training organisations 80
93.......... Offence--providing all or part of VET course outside scope of registration 80
94.......... Civil penalty--providing all or part of VET course outside scope of registration 80
95.......... Offence--issuing VET qualification outside scope of registration.... 80
96.......... Civil penalty--issuing VET qualification outside scope of registration 81
97.......... Offence--issuing VET statement of attainment outside scope of registration 81
98.......... Civil penalty--issuing VET statement of attainment outside scope of registration 81
99.......... Offence--advertising all or part of VET course outside scope of registration 81
100........ Civil penalty--advertising all or part of VET course outside scope of registration 82
101........ Offence--certain conduct prohibited while scope of registration suspended 82
102........ Civil penalty--certain conduct prohibited while scope of registration suspended 83
103........ Offence--issuing VET qualification without providing adequate assessment 83
104........ Civil penalty--issuing VET qualification without providing adequate assessment 84
105........ Offence--issuing VET statement of attainment without providing adequate assessment 85
106........ Civil penalty--issuing VET statement of attainment without providing adequate assessment 85
107........ Offence--issuing VET qualification without ensuring adequate assessment 86
108........ Civil penalty--issuing VET qualification without ensuring adequate assessment 87
109........ Offence--issuing VET statement of attainment without ensuring adequate assessment 87
110........ Civil penalty--issuing VET statement of attainment without ensuring adequate assessment 87
111........ Civil penalty--breach of condition of registration............................. 88
112........ Civil penalty--failure to return certificate of registration................... 88
113........ Geographical jurisdiction.................................................................. 89
Subdivision B--Conduct that is prohibited if not an NVR registered training organisation 89
114........ Offence--falsely claiming to be an NVR registered training organisation 89
115........ Civil penalty--falsely claiming to be an NVR registered training organisation 89
116........ Offence--providing, or offering to provide, all or part of a VET course without registration 89
117........ Civil penalty--providing, or offering to provide, all or part of a VET course without registration 90
118........ Offence--issuing VET qualification................................................. 90
119........ Civil penalty--issuing VET qualification.......................................... 91
120........ Offence--issuing VET statement of attainment................................ 91
121........ Civil penalty--issuing VET statement of attainment......................... 91
Subdivision C--Other prohibited conduct 91
122........ Offence--making false or misleading representation in advertisement 91
123........ Civil penalty--making false or misleading representation in advertisement 92
124........ Offence--making false or misleading representation relating to VET course or VET qualification 92
125........ Civil penalty--making false or misleading representation relating to VET course or VET qualification 93
126........ Offence--purporting to issue VET qualification............................... 93
127........ Civil penalty--purporting to issue VET qualification....................... 93
128........ Offence--purporting to issue VET statement of attainment.............. 94
129........ Civil penalty--purporting to issue VET statement of attainment....... 94
130........ Civil penalty--breach of condition of accreditation........................... 94
131........ Civil penalty--using a bogus VET qualification or VET statement of attainment 94
132........ Geographical jurisdiction.................................................................. 95
Subdivision D--Executive officers 95
133........ Liability of executive officer of registered training organisation........ 95
134........ Reasonable steps to prevent offence or contravention....................... 96
Subdivision E--Partnerships 97
135........ Liability of partners in partnerships................................................... 97
Subdivision F--Unincorporated associations 98
136........ Liability of members of unincorporated associations........................ 98
Division 2--Civil penalty proceedings 100
Subdivision A--Obtaining an order for a civil penalty 100
137........ Federal Court or Federal Magistrates Court may impose pecuniary penalty 100
138........ Involvement in contravening civil penalty provision....................... 101
139........ Recovery of a pecuniary penalty..................................................... 101
140........ Gathering information for application for pecuniary penalty........... 101
141........ Continuing and multiple contraventions of civil penalty provisions 102
Subdivision B--Civil penalty proceedings and criminal proceedings 103
142........ Civil proceedings after criminal proceedings................................... 103
143........ Criminal proceedings during civil proceedings............................... 103
144........ Criminal proceedings after civil proceedings................................... 104
145........ Evidence given in proceedings for civil penalty not admissible in criminal proceedings 104
Division 3--Enforceable undertakings 105
146........ Acceptance of undertakings............................................................ 105
147........ Enforcement of undertakings.......................................................... 105
Division 4--Infringement notices 107
148........ Infringement notices in respect of offences..................................... 107
149........ Infringement notices in respect of civil penalty provisions.............. 107
Division 5--Injunctions 108
150........ Injunctions...................................................................................... 108
151........ Interim injunctions.......................................................................... 108
152........ Discharge etc. of injunctions........................................................... 108
153........ Certain limits on granting injunctions not to apply.......................... 109
154........ Other powers of the Federal Court or Federal Magistrates Court unaffected 109
Part 7--National Vocational Education and Training Regulator 111
Division 1--Establishment, functions and powers of Regulator 111
155........ Establishment.................................................................................. 111
156........ Constitution..................................................................................... 111
157........ Functions of the National VET Regulator....................................... 111
158........ Financial Viability Risk Assessment Requirements........................ 114
159........ Independence of the National VET Regulator................................. 114
160........ Minister may give directions to the National VET Regulator.......... 114
161........ National VET Regulator has privileges and immunities of the Crown 115
Division 2--Appointment of Commissioners 116
162........ Appointment................................................................................... 116
163........ Term of appointment....................................................................... 116
164........ Remuneration and allowances......................................................... 116
165........ Leave of absence............................................................................. 117
166........ Outside employment....................................................................... 117
167........ Disclosure of interests to the Minister............................................. 117
168........ Other terms and conditions............................................................. 117
169........ Resignation..................................................................................... 117
170........ Termination of appointment............................................................ 118
171........ Acting Chief Commissioner............................................................ 118
172........ Acting Commissioners.................................................................... 119
Division 3--National VET Regulator procedures 121
Subdivision A--Meetings 121
173........ Times and places of meetings.......................................................... 121
174........ Conduct of meetings....................................................................... 121
175........ Disclosure of interests..................................................................... 122
Subdivision B--Decisions without meetings 123
176........ Decisions without meetings............................................................ 123
177........ Record of decisions......................................................................... 123
Division 4--Ensuring compliance with the Standards for VET Regulators 124
178........ National VET Regulator to cooperate with assessments................. 124
Division 5--Chief Executive Officer 125
179........ Chief Executive Officer................................................................... 125
180........ Functions and powers of the Chief Executive Officer..................... 125
181........ Minister may give directions to Chief Executive Officer................. 125
Division 6--Staff and consultants 126
182........ Staff................................................................................................ 126
183........ Staff to be made available to the National VET Regulator............... 126
184........ Consultants..................................................................................... 127
Part 8--Commonwealth-State arrangements 128
Division 1--Role of Ministerial Council 128
Subdivision A--NVR registered training organisations 128
185........ Standards for NVR Registered Training Organisations.................. 128
186........ Fit and Proper Person Requirements............................................... 128
187........ Data Provision Requirements.......................................................... 128
Subdivision B--VET accredited courses 129
188........ Standards for VET Accredited Courses.......................................... 129
Subdivision C--VET Regulators 129
189........ Standards for VET Regulators........................................................ 129
190........ Risk Assessment Framework......................................................... 129
Subdivision D--Miscellaneous 130
191........ How the Ministerial Council gives agreement................................. 130
Division 2--Conferral of functions and powers by State law 131
Subdivision A--Conferral of functions and powers 131
192........ Commonwealth consent to conferral of functions etc. on the National VET Regulator by corresponding State laws........................................................................................................ 131
193........ Meaning of imposes a duty............................................................. 131
194........ When duty imposed........................................................................ 132
195........ Duty imposed by corresponding State law applying Commonwealth law 133
Subdivision B--Jurisdiction of federal courts 134
196........ Conferral of jurisdiction on federal courts....................................... 134
Subdivision C--Administrative decisions 134
197........ Review of certain decisions under State laws.................................. 134
Subdivision D--Application to the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory 135
198........ Application to the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory 135
Part 9--Administrative law matters 136
Division 1--Review of decisions 136
199........ Reviewable decisions...................................................................... 136
200........ Applications for reconsideration of decisions................................. 137
201........ Reconsideration by the National VET Regulator............................. 138
202........ Deadline for reconsideration........................................................... 138
203........ Review by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal............................. 139
Division 2--Information management 140
Subdivision A--Unauthorised disclosure 140
204........ Unauthorised disclosure of VET information................................. 140
Subdivision B--Information sharing 140
205........ Disclosure of information by National VET Regulator................... 140
206........ Advising State/Territory Education Ministers about concerns or proposed cancellation of registration 141
207........ Disclosure of information to occupational licensing bodies etc....... 142
208........ Disclosure of information in accordance with international cooperative arrangements 142
209........ Release of information to the public................................................ 142
210........ Disclosure of information to the National VET Regulator.............. 143
Subdivision C--VET student records 144
211........ VET student records to be provided to National VET Regulator--executive officers etc. 144
212........ National VET Regulator may request VET student records to be provided to Regulator 145
213........ Transfer of VET student records to another registered training organisation 145
214........ National VET Regulator's management of VET student records.... 145
Part 10--Reporting requirements 147
215........ Annual report.................................................................................. 147
216........ National Register............................................................................. 148
Part 11--Strategic and annual operational plans 151
Division 1--Strategic plans 151
217........ Development of strategic plan......................................................... 151
218........ Approval of strategic plan............................................................... 151
219........ Variation of strategic plans.............................................................. 152
Division 2--Annual operational plans 154
220........ Development of annual operational plan......................................... 154
221........ Variation of annual operational plan................................................ 154
Division 3--Compliance with plans 155
222........ Compliance with plans.................................................................... 155
Part 12--Miscellaneous 156
Division 1--Delegations 156
223........ Delegation by the Minister.............................................................. 156
224........ Delegation by the National VET Regulator--government authorities etc. 156
225........ Delegation by the National VET Regulator--occupational licensing bodies and other industry bodies 157
226........ Delegation by the National VET Regulator--NVR registered training organisations 157
Division 2--Provisions affecting partnerships 159
227........ Partnerships--rights and obligations.............................................. 159
228........ Continuity of partnerships............................................................... 159
229........ Partnership ceases to exist............................................................... 159
Division 3--Provisions affecting unincorporated associations 161
230........ Unincorporated associations--rights and obligations..................... 161
231........ Unincorporated association ceases to exist...................................... 161
Division 4--Miscellaneous 163
232........ Fees................................................................................................. 163
233........ Protection from civil actions............................................................ 164
234........ Compensation for acquisition of property....................................... 164
235........ Regulations..................................................................................... 164
National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Act 2011
No. 12, 2011
An Act to establish the National Vocational Education and Training Regulator, and for related purposes
[Assented to 12 April 2011]
The Parliament of Australia enacts:
[Minister's second reading speech made in--
Senate on 26 November 2010
House of Representatives on 24 March 2011]
|
(287/10) |