EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
Notice of revocation of approval as a provider on request by the provider under subclause 39(1) of Schedule 1A to the Higher Education Support Act 2003
Issued by the authority of the Minister for Education
Authority
Subclause 39(1) of Schedule 1A to the Higher Education Support Act 2003 (the Act) provides for the revocation of approval of a body as a VET provider by the Minister if the body requests in writing that the Minister revoke its approval. Subclause 39(3) of Schedule 1A to the Act specifies that the Minister must cause the body to be notified of the revocation in writing at least 14 days before the day on which the revocation is to take effect.
Under paragraph 238-5(1)(b) of the Act, the Minister has delegated his powers under subclauses 39(1) and 39(3) of Schedule 1A to the Act, to an APS employee responsible for administering the Act.
Subclause 39(4) of Schedule 1A to the Act stipulates that a notice of revocation under subclause 39(3) of Schedule 1A to the Act is a legislative instrument for the purposes of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003.
Purpose
This legislative instrument (the Instrument) revokes the approval of Navitas Professional Training Pty Ltd as a VET provider under subclause 39(1) of Schedule 1A to the Act.
Background
Navitas Professional Training Pty Ltd (formerly known as Navitas Workforce Solutions Pty Ltd) was approved by the Minister’s delegate as a VET provider on 29 June 2012 by Instrument of Approval No. 12 of 2012 and registered on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments No F2012L01510 on 5 July 2012.
On 10 February 2014, Navitas Professional Training Pty Ltd requested in writing that its approval as a VET provider be revoked.
Commencement
The notice of revocation commenced on 24 March 2014, but this retrospective commencement does not adversely affect the rights of, or impose any liabilities on Navitas Professional Training Pty Ltd, because:
- On 10 February 2014, Navitas Professional Training Pty Ltd requested that its approval as a VET provider be revoked
- On 6 March 2014, a delegate of the Minister for Education wrote to Navitas Professional Training Pty Ltd to provide notice (in accordance with subclause 39(3) of Schedule 1A of the Act) of the revocation and to advise that the revocation would take effect from 24 March 2014
The retrospective commencement is therefore appropriate and does not breach subsection 12(2) of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003.
Consultation
Consultation was not undertaken and was not considered necessary as Navitas Professional Training Pty Ltd has voluntarily requested revocation of its approval as a VET provider for the purposes of VET FEE‑HELP, and Navitas Professional Training Pty Ltd is the only VET provider affected by the Instrument.
Statement of Compatibility with Human Rights
Prepared in accordance with Part 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011
Notice of Revocation of approval as a provider on application
The Instrument is compatible with the human rights and freedoms recognised or declared in the international instruments listed in section 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011.
Overview of the Legislative Instrument
The Instrument is made by the Minister under subclause 39(1) of the Act. The purpose of the Instrument is to revoke the approval of Navitas Professional Training Pty Ltd as a VET provider for the purposes of VET FEE-HELP under the Act. Under subclause 39(1) of Schedule 1A to the Act an approved VET provider must request in writing that its approval be revoked.
Human rights implications
The Instrument engages the right to education, contained in Article 13 of the International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights. In particular, the Instrument has an effect on the provision of vocational education and training by Navitas Professional Training Pty Ltd as it revokes its approval as a VET provider for the purposes of VET FEE-HELP under the Act, removing its ability to offer VET FEE-HELP assistance to its eligible students.
The right to education is engaged, as the Instrument removes the approval of Navitas Professional Training Pty Ltd as a VET provider for the purposes of VET FEE-HELP under the Act. However the right is unaffected as it does not remove Navitas Professional Training Pty Ltd‘s approval to deliver education and training to students.
Conclusion
This Instrument is compatible with human rights because it does not affect the protection of human rights.