2015-10-30
The Australian Greens have called on the Government to completely overhaul the for-profit VET sector in response to Prime Minister, Malcolm Turnbull's comments the sector is a ‘shambles'.
Mr Turnbull made the comment during a press conference in Launceston, and highlighted the sector was providing poor quality courses and poor student outcomes.
Greens spokesperson on Higher Education, Robert Simms, called on the Government to stop tinkering around the edges and overhaul the broken system.
"The Prime Minister is right - the VET sector is a shambles but it's a shambles he has the power to fix. We now need some strong action from the Government to ensure dodgy operators don't continue making huge profits by ripping-off students and taxpayers," Senator Simms said.
"This is an industry that preys on vulnerable Australians, leaving them saddled with debt and worthless degrees.
Everyone agrees the current for-profit model is broken and it is time to start looking for genuine solutions, rather than just tinkering around the edges."
The Greens initiated a Senate inquiry into VET providers that tabled its recommendations recently.
"The recent inquiry provided some good recommendations for the Government to consider in the meantime, such as limits on the percentages of VET FEE-HELP that can be given to brokers and mandatory minimum number of hours on courses that receive VET FEE-HELP.
"If the failed for-profit system must continue, these small improvements may help protect some students, but ultimately the only way to end the rorts is to stop giving VET FEE-HELP to for profit providers."
Media contact: Cambell Klose 0417 173 508