Commonwealth Numbered Acts Commonwealth Numbered Acts
No. 73, 2011
Contents
Division 1--Preliminary 2
1............ Short title............................................................................................. 2
2............ Commencement................................................................................... 2
Division 2--Objects and simplified outline 5
3............ Objects................................................................................................ 5
4............ Simplified outline................................................................................ 5
Division 3--Definitions 7
5............ Definitions.......................................................................................... 7
6............ Meaning of regulated higher education award................................. 16
7............ Meaning of vacancy.......................................................................... 17
Division 4--Constitutional matters 18
8............ Constitutional basis........................................................................... 18
9............ Act excludes State and Territory higher education laws.................... 18
Division 5--General application of this Act 19
10.......... Crown to be bound........................................................................... 19
11.......... Application to external Territories and outside Australia................... 19
12.......... Geographical jurisdiction of offences................................................ 19
Part 2--Basic principles for regulation 20
13.......... Basic principles for regulation........................................................... 20
14.......... Principle of regulatory necessity....................................................... 20
15.......... Principle of reflecting risk................................................................. 20
16.......... Principle of proportionate regulation................................................. 20
17.......... Application to authorised officers..................................................... 21
Part 3--Registration 22
Division 1--Applying for registration 22
18.......... Applying for registration................................................................... 22
19.......... Preliminary assessment of application............................................... 22
20.......... Substantive assessment of application............................................... 23
21.......... Registration....................................................................................... 23
22.......... TEQSA to notify applicant of decision about registration................. 25
23.......... Commencement and duration of registration..................................... 25
Division 2--Conditions of registration 26
24.......... Complying with conditions............................................................... 26
25.......... Condition--accredited course........................................................... 26
26.......... Condition--courses to be provided consistently with the Threshold Standards 26
27.......... Condition--financial information must be provided......................... 26
28.......... Condition--other information must be provided............................... 27
29.......... Condition--notifying TEQSA of material changes........................... 27
30.......... Condition--record keeping............................................................... 28
31.......... Condition--cooperation.................................................................... 28
32.......... Other conditions................................................................................ 28
33.......... Conditions about authority to self-accredit........................................ 29
34.......... TEQSA to notify provider of decision to impose, vary or revoke a condition 30
Division 3--Renewing registration 31
35.......... Applying to renew registration.......................................................... 31
36.......... Renewing registration....................................................................... 31
37.......... TEQSA to notify provider of decision about renewal....................... 32
Division 4--Changing provider registration category 33
38.......... Changing provider registration category........................................... 33
39.......... Consultation--change relates to use of "university"......................... 33
40.......... TEQSA to notify provider of decision.............................................. 34
Division 5--Applying to self-accredit 35
41.......... Applying to self-accredit courses of study........................................ 35
42.......... TEQSA to notify provider of decision.............................................. 35
Division 6--Withdrawing registration 36
43.......... Withdrawing registration................................................................... 36
44.......... TEQSA to notify provider of decision about withdrawal.................. 36
Part 4--Accreditation of courses of study 37
Division 1--Accrediting courses of study 37
45.......... Who can accredit courses of study.................................................... 37
Division 2--Applying for accreditation 38
46.......... Applying for accreditation................................................................. 38
47.......... Preliminary assessment of application............................................... 38
48.......... Substantive assessment of application............................................... 38
49.......... Accreditation of course of study....................................................... 39
50.......... TEQSA to notify provider of decision about accreditation................ 40
51.......... Commencement and duration of accreditation................................... 40
Division 3--Conditions of accreditation 42
52.......... Complying with conditions............................................................... 42
53.......... Conditions......................................................................................... 42
54.......... TEQSA to notify provider of decision to impose, vary or revoke a condition 42
Division 4--Renewing accreditation 43
55.......... Applying to renew accreditation........................................................ 43
56.......... Renewing accreditation..................................................................... 43
57.......... TEQSA to notify provider of decision about renewal....................... 44
Part 5--Higher Education Standards Framework 45
Division 1--Higher Education Standards Framework 45
58.......... Making the Higher Education Standards Framework....................... 45
Division 2--Compliance with the Framework 47
59.......... Compliance assessments................................................................... 47
60.......... Quality (including thematic) assessments.......................................... 47
61.......... Accreditation assessments................................................................. 47
62.......... Matters relevant to assessments........................................................ 47
Part 6--Investigative powers 49
Division 1--Requiring people to give information etc. 49
63.......... Requiring person connected with a regulated entity to give information etc. 49
64.......... Contravening requirement to give information etc............................. 50
65.......... Copying documents--compensation................................................. 50
66.......... TEQSA may retain documents and things........................................ 50
67.......... Returning documents or things produced.......................................... 51
68.......... Disposal if cannot be returned........................................................... 51
69.......... Self-incrimination.............................................................................. 52
Division 2--Searches of premises 53
70.......... Authorised officer may enter premises by consent or under a warrant 53
71.......... Monitoring powers of authorised officers......................................... 53
72.......... Enforcement powers of authorised officers....................................... 56
73.......... Persons assisting authorised officers................................................ 58
74.......... Use of force in executing a warrant................................................... 58
75.......... Authorised officer may ask questions and seek production of documents 59
76.......... Self-incrimination.............................................................................. 60
Division 3--Obligations and incidental powers of authorised officers 61
77.......... Consent............................................................................................. 61
78.......... Announcement before entry under warrant....................................... 61
79.......... Authorised officer to be in possession of warrant............................. 62
80.......... Details of warrant etc. to be given to occupier................................... 62
81.......... Expert assistance to operate electronic equipment............................. 63
82.......... Compensation for damage to electronic equipment........................... 64
Division 4--Occupier's rights and responsibilities 66
83.......... Occupier entitled to observe execution of warrant............................. 66
84.......... Occupier to provide authorised officer with facilities and assistance. 66
Division 5--General provisions relating to seizure 67
85.......... Copies of seized things to be provided.............................................. 67
86.......... Receipts for things seized.................................................................. 67
87.......... Return of seized things...................................................................... 67
88.......... Magistrate may permit a thing to be retained..................................... 68
89.......... Disposal if cannot be returned........................................................... 69
Division 6--Warrants 71
90.......... Issuing monitoring warrants............................................................. 71
91.......... Issuing enforcement warrants........................................................... 72
92.......... Enforcement warrants by telephone, fax etc...................................... 73
93.......... Offence relating to warrants by telephone, fax etc............................. 75
Division 7--Authorised officers and identity cards 76
94.......... Authorised officers........................................................................... 76
95.......... Identity cards..................................................................................... 76
Division 8--Powers of magistrates 78
96.......... Federal Magistrates--consent to nomination.................................... 78
97.......... Magistrates--personal capacity......................................................... 78
Part 7--Enforcement 79
Division 1--Administrative sanctions 79
Subdivision A--Sanctions 79
98.......... Provider is non-compliant................................................................. 79
99.......... Sanctions about accredited course..................................................... 79
100........ Shortening period of registration....................................................... 79
101........ Cancelling registration....................................................................... 79
Subdivision B--Other matters 80
102........ Automatic cancellation if provider wound up.................................... 80
103........ Seeking registration after cancellation............................................... 80
Division 2--Offences and civil penalty provisions 81
Subdivision A--Offences and civil penalty provisions 81
104........ Guide to offences and civil penalty provisions.................................. 81
105........ Offering a regulated higher education award if unregistered............. 81
106........ Representing offer of a regulated higher education award if unregistered 82
107........ Offering an award without a course of study.................................... 83
108........ Regulated entity represents itself as university.................................. 83
109........ Falsely representing entity as a registered higher education provider 85
110........ Falsely representing that entity provides a course of study leading to a regulated higher education award 85
111........ Falsely representing course of study is accredited............................. 86
112........ Providing an unaccredited course of study........................................ 86
113........ Breach of condition of registration.................................................... 87
114........ Breach of condition of accreditation.................................................. 87
Subdivision B--Obtaining a civil penalty order 87
115........ Civil penalty orders........................................................................... 87
116........ Involvement in contravening civil penalty provision......................... 88
117........ Recovery of a pecuniary penalty....................................................... 89
118........ 2 or more proceedings may be heard together................................... 89
119........ Continuing and multiple contraventions of civil penalty provisions.. 89
120........ Mistake of fact.................................................................................. 90
Subdivision C--Civil penalty proceedings and criminal proceedings 91
121........ Civil proceedings after criminal proceedings..................................... 91
122........ Criminal proceedings during civil proceedings................................. 91
123........ Criminal proceedings after civil proceedings..................................... 91
124........ Evidence given in proceedings for civil penalty not admissible in criminal proceedings 91
Division 3--Enforceable undertakings 93
125........ Acceptance of undertakings.............................................................. 93
126........ Enforcement of undertakings............................................................ 93
Division 4--Injunctions 95
127........ Injunctions........................................................................................ 95
128........ Interim injunctions............................................................................ 95
129........ Discharging or varying injunctions................................................... 96
130........ Certain limits on granting injunctions not to apply............................ 96
131........ Other powers of the Court unaffected............................................... 96
Part 8--Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency 98
Division 1--Establishment, functions and powers of TEQSA 98
132........ Establishment.................................................................................... 98
133........ Constitution....................................................................................... 98
134........ Functions and powers....................................................................... 98
135........ Independence of TEQSA................................................................ 100
136........ Minister may give directions to TEQSA......................................... 100
137........ TEQSA has privileges and immunities of the Crown..................... 100
Division 2--Appointment of Commissioners 101
138........ Appointment................................................................................... 101
139........ Term of appointment....................................................................... 101
140........ Remuneration and allowances......................................................... 101
141........ Leave of absence............................................................................. 102
142........ Outside employment....................................................................... 102
143........ Disclosure of interests to the Minister............................................. 102
144........ Other terms and conditions............................................................. 102
145........ Resignation..................................................................................... 103
146........ Termination of appointment............................................................ 103
147........ Acting appointments....................................................................... 104
Division 3--TEQSA procedures 106
Subdivision A--Meetings 106
148........ Times and places of meetings.......................................................... 106
149........ Conduct of meetings....................................................................... 106
150........ Disclosure of interests..................................................................... 107
Subdivision B--Decisions without meetings 107
151........ Decisions without meetings............................................................ 107
152........ Record of decisions......................................................................... 108
Division 4--Chief Executive Officer 109
153........ Chief Executive Officer................................................................... 109
154........ Functions and powers of the Chief Executive Officer..................... 109
155........ Minister may give directions to Chief Executive Officer................. 109
Division 5--Staff 110
156........ Staff................................................................................................ 110
157........ Staff to be made available to TEQSA.............................................. 110
Division 6--Fees 111
158........ Fees................................................................................................. 111
Division 7--Planning 112
Subdivision A--Strategic plans 112
159........ Developing strategic plans.............................................................. 112
160........ Approving strategic plans............................................................... 112
161........ Varying strategic plans.................................................................... 113
Subdivision B--Annual operational plans 113
162........ Developing annual operational plans............................................... 113
163........ Approving annual operational plans................................................ 114
164........ Varying annual operational plans.................................................... 114
Division 8--Annual reports 115
165........ Annual reports................................................................................ 115
Part 9--Higher Education Standards Panel 116
Division 1--Establishment and functions 116
166........ Establishment.................................................................................. 116
167........ Constitution..................................................................................... 116
168........ Functions........................................................................................ 116
169........ Panel has privileges and immunities of the Crown.......................... 117
Division 2--Appointment of Panel members 118
170........ Appointment................................................................................... 118
171........ Term of appointment....................................................................... 118
172........ Remuneration and allowances......................................................... 118
173........ Leave of absence............................................................................. 119
174........ Outside employment....................................................................... 119
175........ Disclosure of interests to the Minister............................................. 119
176........ Other terms and conditions............................................................. 119
177........ Resignation..................................................................................... 119
178........ Termination of appointment............................................................ 120
179........ Acting appointments....................................................................... 120
Division 3--Panel meetings 122
180........ Holding meetings............................................................................ 122
181........ Quorum........................................................................................... 122
182........ Procedure of meetings..................................................................... 122
Part 10--Administrative law matters 124
Division 1--Review of decisions 124
183........ Reviewable decisions...................................................................... 124
184........ Applying for internal review of reviewable decisions made by delegates of TEQSA 125
185........ Internal review by TEQSA............................................................. 125
186........ Deadline for internal review............................................................ 126
187........ Review by the Administrative Appeals Tribunal............................. 126
Division 2--Information management 127
Subdivision A--Restriction on disclosure or use of information 127
188........ Offence of unauthorised disclosure or use of information.............. 127
Subdivision B--Information sharing 128
189........ Disclosing information about breaches of regulatory requirements. 128
190........ Disclosing information about proposed cancellations of registration 129
191........ Disclosing information to Tertiary Admission Centres................... 129
192........ Disclosing information to the Minister and Secretary..................... 129
193........ Disclosing information to professional bodies etc........................... 130
194........ Disclosing information to certain government bodies etc................ 130
195........ Disclosing information under international cooperative arrangements 130
196........ Disclosing information to the public............................................... 130
197........ Information about national security................................................. 131
Part 11--National Register of Higher Education Providers 132
198........ National Register of Higher Education Providers........................... 132
Part 12--Miscellaneous 133
199........ Delegation--general........................................................................ 133
200........ Delegation--powers delegable only to Commissioners.................. 134
201........ Delegates must comply with directions........................................... 134
202........ Protection from criminal or civil actions.......................................... 135
203........ Review of impact of Act................................................................. 135
204........ Guidelines....................................................................................... 135
205........ Regulations..................................................................................... 136
Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011
No. 73, 2011
An Act to regulate higher education, and for other purposes
[Assented to 29 June 2011]
The Parliament of Australia enacts:
[Minister's second reading speech made in--
Senate on 23 March 2011
House of Representatives on 22 June 2011]
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