Uni cheating services threatened with jail

Cheats who take exams or write essays on behalf of university students could be jailed for two years under a Morrison government proposal.

Education Minister Dan Tehan said the high penalties - of up to two years' prison and $100,000 in fines - were necessary to deter businesses from profiting from making students cheat.

"This bill is aimed squarely at providers of cheating services and not at students who use such services. Students who cheat remain subject to their institution's own academic integrity policies, processes and sanctions," he said while introducing the draft laws to parliament on Wednesday.