New National VET Regulator

The Australian Council of Trade Unions welcomed the creation of a single national regulator of Australian Vocational Education and Training (VET) sector as an important step towards higher standards in the sector. The Council of Australian Governments has agreed to set up a new regulatory body that will begin operation in 2011. ACTU President Sharan Burrow said this was an important reform that would help ensure that the highest levels of quality and enforceable standards apply across all states and territories. She said it was hoped that eventually Victoria and Western Australia, who will continue to regulate providers in their own states, would see the virtues of a single national regulator.