This bill became law on Dec 4th, 2025.
Education & skills
The Act retrospectively authorises approved VET Student LoansA Commonwealth income-contingent loan program for eligible higher-level vocational education and training courses, such as diploma-level courses and above. providers, and specified government officers, to have handled student tax file numbers for VET Student Loan applications and loans during the period from 1 January 2017 to immediately before 1 October 2025.
The bill was introduced after the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations reviewed VET Student LoansA Commonwealth income-contingent loan program for eligible higher-level vocational education and training courses, such as diploma-level courses and above. administration and found that providers had been handling student tax file numbers without a clear role for that handling in the VET Student LoansA Commonwealth income-contingent loan program for eligible higher-level vocational education and training courses, such as diploma-level courses and above. Act 2016. The government said tax file numbers had been needed to administer loans and match loan records with Australian Taxation Office accounts, so the Act retrospectively validates past handling while relying on 2025 IT changes that now mask tax file numbers from providers.
The Act sits in the longer history of Commonwealth income-contingent loans for vocational education. VET FEE-HELPThe earlier income-contingent VET loan scheme that was replaced by VET Student Loans in 2017. The ministerial speech says that earlier scheme allowed providers to handle tax file numbers for loan administration. began before the 2017 VET Student LoansA Commonwealth income-contingent loan program for eligible higher-level vocational education and training courses, such as diploma-level courses and above. program and allowed providers to handle tax file numbers for loan administration. The 2017 program introduced a new legislative framework after serious VET FEE-HELPThe earlier income-contingent VET loan scheme that was replaced by VET Student Loans in 2017. The ministerial speech says that earlier scheme allowed providers to handle tax file numbers for loan administration. integrity problems, but it kept related IT platforms in use. The 2025 Act responds to a technical legal gap in that transition: providers no longer need to see tax file numbers after 2025 system changes, but past provider and government handling needed statutory validation.
The local bill record did not contain substantive opposition to the bill. The collected debate was dominated by government support speeches, while the one collected Liberal speech described the bill as uncontroversial and said consulted stakeholders did not share any great concern. No proposed amendments or recorded divisions were collected for this bill.
Andrew Giles MP introduced this bill. It passed on the voices.
Did it become law?
Yes
Became law 04 Dec 2025
Final passage
Passed without a counted vote
Members called out ‘aye’ or ‘no’ — no individual votes were recorded.
Passage speed
36 days
From introduction to the latest recorded parliamentary step
Meaning
The Act retrospectively authorises approved VET Student LoansA Commonwealth income-contingent loan program for eligible higher-level vocational education and training courses, such as diploma-level courses and above. providers, and specified government officers, to have handled student tax file numbers for VET Student Loan applications and loans during the period from 1 January 2017 to immediately before 1 October 2025.
The retrospective authorisationA law that treats certain past conduct as authorised. In this Act, it applies to past tax file number handling for VET Student Loans administration, not to unrelated misuse or future provider access. covers requiring or requesting, collecting, recording, storing, using and disclosing a student tax file numberA unique Australian Taxation Office identifier. For VET Student Loans, students provide it so loan records can be matched with tax-system repayment records., but only for facilitating or administering a student application for a VET Student Loan or the loan itself.
The Department of Employment and Workplace Relations said the bill was needed because a review found no clear role in the VET Student LoansA Commonwealth income-contingent loan program for eligible higher-level vocational education and training courses, such as diploma-level courses and above. Act 2016 for providers to handle tax file numbers, even though provider officers had been able to access them in the eCAFThe online form students use to apply for a VET Student Loan. The explanatory memorandum says provider access to tax file numbers in this system was masked in 2025. system until system changes were implemented on 28 March 2025.
The measure does not give providers an ongoing power to handle tax file numbers: the explanatory memorandum says provider access was masked in relevant systems before 1 October 2025, and the Act applies to past conduct only.
The Act excludes rule 13 of the Privacy (Tax File Number) Rule 2015A privacy rule for tax file numbers. The Act deems the VET Student Loans Act to have been a taxation law for much of the rule, but excludes rule 13 from the retrospective authorisation. from the deemed authorisation, preserves completed pre-commencement privacy determinations and proceedings, and includes a just-terms compensation clause if section 4 would otherwise acquire property invalidly.
relevant period means the period beginning at the start of 1 January 2017 and ending immediately before 1 October 2025.VET Student Loans (Miscellaneous Measures) Act 2025 final Act text
deal, with a tax file number, means: (a) require or request the quoting of the tax file number; or (b) collect the tax file number; or (c) record the tax file number; or (d) store the tax file number; or (e) use the tax file number; or (f) disclose the tax file number.VET Student Loans (Miscellaneous Measures) Act 2025 final Act text
During a review of how VET Student Loans are administered the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (the department) identified that there is no clear role for VSL providers to handle TFNs in the VET Student Loans Act 2016 (VSL Act) and stronger alignment between relevant IT systems and legislation was required for handling TFNs.VET Student Loans (Miscellaneous Measures) explanatory memorandum
The measure in this Bill is time limited and is applied retrospectively from the VSL program commencement date (1 January 2017) until updates to IT systems were implemented to completely mask TFNs from providers in relevant systems.VET Student Loans (Miscellaneous Measures) explanatory memorandum
The dealing is taken for all purposes (except for the purposes of rule 13 of the Privacy (Tax File Number) Rule 2015) to have been, and to always have been: (a) authorised by the VET Student Loans Act 2016.VET Student Loans (Miscellaneous Measures) Act 2025 final Act text
Context
The Act sits in the longer history of Commonwealth income-contingent loans for vocational education. VET FEE-HELPThe earlier income-contingent VET loan scheme that was replaced by VET Student Loans in 2017. The ministerial speech says that earlier scheme allowed providers to handle tax file numbers for loan administration. began before the 2017 VET Student LoansA Commonwealth income-contingent loan program for eligible higher-level vocational education and training courses, such as diploma-level courses and above. program and allowed providers to handle tax file numbers for loan administration. The 2017 program introduced a new legislative framework after serious VET FEE-HELPThe earlier income-contingent VET loan scheme that was replaced by VET Student Loans in 2017. The ministerial speech says that earlier scheme allowed providers to handle tax file numbers for loan administration. integrity problems, but it kept related IT platforms in use. The 2025 Act responds to a technical legal gap in that transition: providers no longer need to see tax file numbers after 2025 system changes, but past provider and government handling needed statutory validation.
Income-contingent VET loans begin under VET FEE-HELPThe earlier income-contingent VET loan scheme that was replaced by VET Student Loans in 2017. The ministerial speech says that earlier scheme allowed providers to handle tax file numbers for loan administration.
The ministerial second-reading speech says income-contingent loans for vocational education and training students were first introduced in 2008 under the former VET FEE-HELPThe earlier income-contingent VET loan scheme that was replaced by VET Student Loans in 2017. The ministerial speech says that earlier scheme allowed providers to handle tax file numbers for loan administration. scheme.
Ministerial second-reading speech ↗VET FEE-HELPThe earlier income-contingent VET loan scheme that was replaced by VET Student Loans in 2017. The ministerial speech says that earlier scheme allowed providers to handle tax file numbers for loan administration. integrity problems drive replacement scheme
Collected public-context material and the 2016 explanatory material describe VET FEE-HELPThe earlier income-contingent VET loan scheme that was replaced by VET Student Loans in 2017. The ministerial speech says that earlier scheme allowed providers to handle tax file numbers for loan administration. as having experienced unsustainable growth, unscrupulous provider behaviour and poor student outcomes before the replacement VET Student LoansA Commonwealth income-contingent loan program for eligible higher-level vocational education and training courses, such as diploma-level courses and above. scheme.
Australian Taxation Office legal database, VET Student Loans Bill 2016 explanatory material ↗VET Student LoansA Commonwealth income-contingent loan program for eligible higher-level vocational education and training courses, such as diploma-level courses and above. program starts
The 2025 explanatory memorandum treats 1 January 2017 as the VET Student LoansA Commonwealth income-contingent loan program for eligible higher-level vocational education and training courses, such as diploma-level courses and above. program commencement date and the start of the retrospective period.
Explanatory memorandum ↗Provider access to student tax file numbers is masked
The explanatory memorandum says VSLA Commonwealth income-contingent loan program for eligible higher-level vocational education and training courses, such as diploma-level courses and above. provider officers were previously able to access student tax file numbers in eCAFThe online form students use to apply for a VET Student Loan. The explanatory memorandum says provider access to tax file numbers in this system was masked in 2025. until system changes were implemented on 28 March 2025.
Explanatory memorandum ↗Government introduces retrospective validation bill
Andrew Giles introduced the bill in the House of Representatives to authorise past provider and departmental tax file numberA unique Australian Taxation Office identifier. For VET Student Loans, students provide it so loan records can be matched with tax-system repayment records. handling for VET Student LoansA Commonwealth income-contingent loan program for eligible higher-level vocational education and training courses, such as diploma-level courses and above. administration.
House of Representatives Hansard ↗Bill receives Royal AssentThe formal approval that turns a bill passed by Parliament into an Act. This bill received Royal Assent on 4 December 2025 and commenced the next day.
The APH and Federal Register metadata record Royal AssentThe formal approval that turns a bill passed by Parliament into an Act. This bill received Royal Assent on 4 December 2025 and commenced the next day. on 4 December 2025; the Act commenced the following day.
Federal Register of Legislation ↗Legislative route
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Introduced and read a first time
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Second reading moved
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Referred to Federation Chamber
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
Second reading agreed to
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Third reading agreed to
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Introduced and read a first time
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Second reading moved
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
Second reading agreed to
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Third reading agreed to
Both houses passed the bill in the same form, completing parliamentary passage.
Finally passed both Houses
The Governor-General gave Royal AssentThe formal approval that turns a bill passed by Parliament into an Act. This bill received Royal Assent on 4 December 2025 and commenced the next day., turning the bill into an Act.
Key criticism
The local bill record did not contain substantive opposition to the bill. The collected debate was dominated by government support speeches, while the one collected Liberal speech described the bill as uncontroversial and said consulted stakeholders did not share any great concern. No proposed amendments or recorded divisions were collected for this bill.
This is a limitation of the local APH, Hansard and collected public-context record used for this manual page; it is not a claim that no person outside that record ever raised a concern.
Further sources
Votes
The bill passed both chambers on the voices, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes for final passage.
House agreed to the bill's third reading on the voices, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes for final passage in that chamber.
Passed on the voices
In a voice vote, members call out Aye or No and the presiding officer judges which side has it. Individual names are only recorded if a formal division is called.
Senate agreed to the bill's third reading on the voices, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes for final passage in that chamber.
Passed on the voices
In a voice vote, members call out Aye or No and the presiding officer judges which side has it. Individual names are only recorded if a formal division is called.
Parliamentary debate
Start here — lead voices
Andrew Giles supported the bill as a retrospective validation measure for VET Student LoansA Commonwealth income-contingent loan program for eligible higher-level vocational education and training courses, such as diploma-level courses and above. tax file numberA unique Australian Taxation Office identifier. For VET Student Loans, students provide it so loan records can be matched with tax-system repayment records. handling.
Read in Hansard ↗Scott Buchholz treated the bill as uncontroversial and supported the cooperative process used to address the anomaly.
Read in Hansard ↗Alison Byrnes supported the bill and argued that vocational education opens career pathways and supports the country’s workforce needs.
Read in Hansard ↗Matt Burnell supported the bill as a technical measure with a practical purpose: giving students, providers and the Commonwealth certainty that past tax file numberA unique Australian Taxation Office identifier. For VET Student Loans, students provide it so loan records can be matched with tax-system repayment records. handling for VET Student LoansA Commonwealth income-contingent loan program for eligible higher-level vocational education and training courses, such as diploma-level courses and above. was lawful.
Read in Hansard ↗All speeches by bloc
19 speakers · 19 support
“I rise today in support of the VET Student Loans (Miscellaneous Measures) Bill 2025.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“I wish to address the House on the VET Student Loans (Miscellaneous Measures) Bill 2025, a bill that strengthens our vocational education system, ensures the integrity of student loan administration and delivers certainty for students, providers and the Commonwealth alike.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“VET STUDENT LOANS (MISCELLANEOUS MEASURES) BILL 2025 Today, I introduce the VET Student Loans (Miscellaneous Measures) Bill 2025.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“I rise today to speak in support of the VET Student Loans (Miscellaneous Measures) Bill 2025 put forward by the Minister for Skills and Training, and I commend him for doing so.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“It is a simple, commonsense fix that makes sure our vocational education and training loan system works the way it was supposed to.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“I rise to speak on the VET Student Loans (Miscellaneous Measures) Bill 2025.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“Since early 2025 the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations has implemented a series of enhancements to its IT infrastructure aimed at improving the security and efficiency of handling sensitive personal data.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“At its core, the VET Student Loans (Miscellaneous Measures) Bill 2025 is about trust in the law and our institutions and trust for the students and providers who rely on them.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“I rise in support of the VET Student Loans (Miscellaneous Measures) Bill 2025 before the House.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“I'm proud to speak in strong support of the VET Student Loans (Miscellaneous Measures) Bill 2025.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“I rise today to speak in support of the VET Student Loans (Miscellaneous Measures) Bill 2025.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“The VET Student Loans (Miscellaneous Measures) Bill 2025 addresses a technical but important issue in the administration of our vocational education loan system.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“This government is ensuring that there is certainty in this system and that no-one else will be affected by a problem of this kind in the future.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“We are taking steps to fix a problem identified during a review of how these VET student loans are administered.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“I rise today to speak in strong support of the VET Student Loans (Miscellaneous Measures) Bill 2025.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“The bill is a fix for an issue where VSL providers were handling tax file numbers when the 2016 VSL Act did not authorise it.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“I am pleased to give my strong support for the VET Student Loans (Miscellaneous Measures) Bill 2025.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“I note that, as a result of this bill, there will be no change to the way that students apply for these loans, and they will still continue to use the electronic Commonwealth assistance form.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“This bill includes a retrospective measure to authorise VSL providers' past handling of student tax file numbers (TFNs) for the purpose of administering loan applications and VET student loans.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
1 speaker · 1 support
“The VET Student Loans (Miscellaneous Measures) Bill 2025 is an uncontroversial bill.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Record
House · Introduced and read a first time
Introduced
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
House · Second reading moved
Second reading opened
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
House · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House · Referred to Federation Chamber
Referred to Federation Chamber
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House · Returned to House for further consideration
Returned to House for further consideration
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House · Second reading agreed to
Second reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
House · Third reading agreed to
Third reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Senate · Introduced and read a first time
Introduced
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Senate · Second reading moved
Second reading opened
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Senate · Second reading agreed to
Second reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
Senate · Third reading agreed to
Third reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Parliament · Finally passed both Houses
Passed both houses
Both houses passed the bill in the same form, completing parliamentary passage.
Assent · Assent
Assent
The Governor-General gave Royal AssentThe formal approval that turns a bill passed by Parliament into an Act. This bill received Royal Assent on 4 December 2025 and commenced the next day., turning the bill into an Act.
