Tuesday, 3 March 2020

Bills

Education and Training Reform Amendment (Regulation of Student Accommodation) Bill 2020

Introduction and first reading

Mr MERLINO (Monbulk—Minister for Education) (12:55): I move:

That I introduce a bill for an act to amend the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 to provide for the registration of premises at which accommodation services are provided to students enrolled at or attending registered schools and to make minor amendments to that act and related consequential amendments to the Child Wellbeing and Safety Act 2005 and for other purposes.

Motion agreed to.

Ms McLEISH (Eildon) (12:55): I request a brief explanation of the bill.

Mr MERLINO: The bill seeks to amend the Education and Training Reform Act 2006 to expand the regulatory powers of the Victorian Registration and Qualifications Authority to register and regulate boarding schools, particularly in relation to child safe standards. The bill implements a key recommendation of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse to strengthen the regulation of boarding schools in Victoria.

Read first time.

Ordered to be read a second time tomorrow.