Victims of the spivs whose greed led to the VET FEE HELP outrage are nearly out of time to apply to have their students debts credited. Skills Minister Brendan O’Connor is on to it

The existing legislative instrument that covers people misled into signing up for courses they did not need expires at year end but the explanatory statement for a new one makes the case for 12 months more. Thanks to the learned Andrew Norton for pointing this out.

While 163 000 students have had the debts cancelled (technically their HELP debts are re-credited), the Commonwealth Actuary advices there are potentially still some to go.

Which makes the extension excellent.

What isn’t is that the $2.2bn VET FEE HELP affront to the public purse is now largely forgotten.

The Australian National Audit Office explained what occurred (CMM December 21 2016) but how VET FEE HELP occurred, under Labor and coalition governments, has never been properly presented to the public.