Cheats selling their services to Australian university students will face fines or jail time under new laws introduced into Parliament today.
Minister for Education Dan Tehan introduced the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (Prohibiting Academic cheating Services) Bill 2019 into the House of Representatives today.
“Cheating services are a blight on our education system. These are criminals exploiting vulnerable students and undermining the integrity of our high-quality degrees,” Mr Tehan said.
“Cheaters should never prosper and under our Government if you sell a cheating service to an Australian student you will face two years imprisonment or fines of up to $100,000.
“This Bill is aimed at commercial cheating services, not the students who use them. Students who cheat will still be subject to their institutions’ own academic integrity policies and sanctions, including any consequences that flow from those.
“After consulting with the sector, we have clarified the legislation to ensure parents and friends who might edit their child’s essay or provide suggestions on how to improve an assignment will not be impacted.
“The national regulator will be given new powers to investigate and recommend prosecution of cheating service providers. The Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency will also be empowered to seek court injunctions to force internet service providers and search engines to block cheating websites.”
