This edition of Simms in the Senate covers the Greens' campaign to make schools safe for LGBTI students, why there should be no nuclear waste dump in South Australia, the inquiry into BP's exploration of the Great Australian Bight, green cars being key to SA's economic future, a Valentine's Day push for marriage equality legislation, how to take the 2016 Student Survey, and more. Simply click the link below to download the PDF, or email Senator Simms to be added to the mailing list.

The Australian Greens are urging the government to scrap using taxpayer money on the broken for-profit VET sector rather than trying to protect their image with Band-Aid solutions.

Australian Greens higher education spokesperson Senator Robert Simms will launch the Save Our Scholarships campaign to mark the start of O'Week, calling on Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and Opposition Leader Bill Shorten to reverse their decision to turn the Student Start-Up Scholarships into a loan.

The Australian Greens have welcomed today's decision to transition Radio Adelaide to be run under the Fresh 92.7 umbrella, but say more detail is needed on licensing and staffing arrangements before the plan gets the green light.

"It's great to see that the future of Radio Adelaide appears secure for now, however I do want to be assured that there is security for staff at this time and that the charter of Radio Adelaide will be upheld under these new arrangements," Greens Senator for South Australia Robert Simms said.

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The collapse of a major college in the VET sector leaving thousands of students stranded and hundreds of workers in limbo highlights the need for the Government to redirect investment into TAFE, rather than for-profit providers, the Australian Greens say.

"This is yet another example of students being dudded by Government policy. While reforms passed by the Parliament last year provide some safeguards, the for-profit model will never guarantee high quality courses for students," Greens higher education spokesperson Senator Robert Simms said.

Last year, Labor and the Liberals came together to hike up HELP fees for university students by converting the Student Start-Up Scholarship into a loan.

The Student Start-Up Scholarship allows students from disadvantaged or low income backgrounds to purchase the textbooks and equipment they need to study, and for many it is the difference between being able to pay their rent or buy groceries, and not. The Scholarship is a necessity for most students on Youth Allowance, not a choice.

Australian Greens higher education spokesperson Senator Robert Simms is calling on the Government to drop its outrageous idea to force TAFE institutions to focus on chasing profits rather than providing quality tertiary education.

"This latest leak from the Liberals shows the Government clearly didn't get the memo that Australians value affordable higher education. TAFE institutions around the country are vital in providing people with access to tertiary education, a pathway to a career change or a specialist course in a field they are passionate about," Senator Simms said.

The Australian Greens have welcomed the proposal to ban private colleges using brokers to sell courses, and have urged the Government to scrap public funding for the entire for-profit VET sector.

"The Greens welcome the Government's attempts to re-draw the for-profit VET sector. Over the past few years private training colleges have ripped off thousands of students, leaving them with huge debts and little prospect of gaining employment with worthless degrees," The Greens spokesperson on Higher Education, Senator Robert Simms, said.