The National Vocational Education and Training Regulator Act 2011 (NVR Act) contains a range of civil penalty provisions some of which may be dealt with by way of an infringement notice. The decision to issue an infringement notice is one of a range of enforcement actions ASQA can take in order to enforce compliance with the law.

What is an infringement notice?

An infringement notice issued under the NVR Act recognises and penalises an alleged breach of a relevant civil penalty provision.

An ASQA infringement officer may issue an infringement notice if they reasonably believe that a person has contravened a relevant civil penalty provision of the NVR Act.

What do the infringement notice provisions relate to?

ASQA is able to issue infringement notices for NVR Act civil penalty provisions that fall within seven broad categories:

1. Conduct that is outside the scope of an RTO’s registration
2. Conduct relating to a failure to return a certificate of registration
3. Conduct relating to non-RTOs
4. Conduct that is false or misleading
5. Conduct that relates to specifying the issuer of a qualification or statement of attainment in advertising
6. Conduct that relates to purportedly registered courses.

7. Conduct relating to a breach of a condition of an RTO’s registration.

    

Who is issued the infringement notice?

The notice is issued to a ‘person’ who it is alleged has contravened the legislation. A person is defined as being a ‘legal entity’ which includes an ‘individual’ or ‘corporate entity’. If the notice is issued to a named individual then it is alleged that they were responsible for the contravention of the Act. If the notice is issued to the corporate entity then it is alleged the corporate entity committed the contravention.

A ‘person’ who receives the infringement notice cannot assign the notice to another ‘person’.

Can I be subject to more than one infringement notice?

Yes—ASQA may issue multiple infringement notices.

ASQA considers the following factors to be especially relevant when deciding to issue multiple infringement notices:

• there have been multiple contraventions of infringement notice provisions
• the contraventions have occurred in a number of states or territories
• the contraventions have involved the use of different types of media, such as online, television, radio, magazines and newspapers, outdoor advertising, or

• there are circumstances which make it desirable to issue multiple notices to deter similar conduct by the person involved or the broader sector.

   

What happens after I receive an infringement notice?

You have 28 days from the day after the notice issued date in order to pay the infringement penalty.

You can apply for an extension of time in which to pay the infringement penalty provided you do so within 28 days of the day after the ‘notice issued’ date.

ASQA may extend the payment due date and provide notice of that decision before or after the payment due date. ASQA may extend the payment due date more than once.

If ASQA does not extend the payment due date and you are notified of this decision after the payment date, the payment date is extended by seven days, starting the day after ASQA’s decision date.

You can pay the infringement penalty by:

• cheque or money order
• direct debit, or
• credit card.

Payment details are listed on the Infringement Notice.

Email remittance advice to accounts@asqa.gov.au or post to:

Australian Skills Quality Authority
GPO Box 9928
Melbourne VIC 3000

What happens after I receive an infringement notice?

If the penalty is paid by the payment due date (usually 28 days from the day after the notice issued date unless ASQA has approved an extension), your liability will be discharged and no criminal or civil penalty proceedings will be brought against you in relation to the alleged contravention.

If you don’t pay within 28 days (starting from the day after the notice is given to you), then:

• Your liability for the alleged contravention is not discharged.
• Proceedings seeking a civil penalty order may be brought against you for the alleged contravention.

• If you are found by a court to have committed the alleged contravention, you may be liable for the maximum penalty specified (plus court costs).

   

What options do I have if I receive an infringement notice that I disagree with?

You may apply in writing for withdrawal of an infringement notice by completing a request form within 28 days of the day after notice is given to you for withdrawal of an infringement notice.

If you have been granted an extended time to pay, ASQA may also allow you to apply in writing within that extended time for withdrawal of an infringement notice.

Your application must:

• state that you request a withdrawal of the infringement notice, and
• detail the grounds upon which you base your request for withdrawal.

ASQA will consider these grounds when making a decision about whether to withdraw the infringement notice.

ASQA will notify you in writing if the notice is withdrawn. If the notice is withdrawn, proceedings seeking a civil penalty order may still be brought against you in relation to the alleged contravention.

If ASQA withdraws the notice and you have already paid the amount stated in the notice, you will be refunded an amount equal to the amount paid.

If ASQA makes a decision not to withdraw the notice, you will also be notified of this decision in writing. The time for payment is extended to 28 days, starting from the day after notice of the refusal is given.

Infringement notice categories

Depending on the category of conduct, and the specific provision the alleged contravention relates to, the individual or organisation to whom the notice applies will vary.

What is a penalty unit and how are the maximum penalties calculated?

Section 4AA of the Crimes Act 1914 sets the monetary amount of a penalty unit. At the date of publishing, this amount is $330.00.

The penalty for an infringement notice is not able to exceed one-tenth of the maximum penalty prescribed for contravening that provision (as per section 149 (2) of the NVR Act). If you do not pay the infringement notice on time and you are found by a court to have committed the alleged contravention, you may be liable for the maximum penalty prescribed for contravening that provision.