Universities Accord (Australian Tertiary Education Commission) Bill 2025, Universities Accord (Australian Tertiary Education Commission) (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2025
Senator O'SULLIVAN (Western Australia—Deputy Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate) (19:38): In the one minute that we have remaining on this debate, I will make this point about the recommendation for the Senate to support my amendment on sheet 3655. I don't believe the amendment has been moved yet. I don't have to move it, because it's subject to the guillotine in any case.
It is quite extraordinary. The words 'teaching', 'learning' and 'research' simply do not appear in the bill. There's nothing there about the quality of our institutions, the national interest, student experience, dynamism, competition, innovation or efficiency that are absolutely required in our tertiary education system.
This bill is not fit for purpose. We heard from stakeholders throughout the inquiry that it's not fit for purpose. I encourage the Senate to agree to the amendment we have before us as we now move onto our guillotine.
The CHAIR: The question is the amendment on sheet 3665 be agreed to. Opposition's circulated amendment— (1) Clause 13, page 10 (lines 19 to 23), omit subclause (1), substitute: (1) The National Tertiary Education Objective is the objective for tertiary education in Australia to: (a) develop a world-class tertiary education sector that drives excellence in teaching and learning; and (b) deliver world-leading research and scholarship, particularly in strategic areas of national significance; and (c) improve productivity by developing a highly skilled, adaptable and productive workforce; and (d) establish close links between tertiary education providers, industry and business to strengthen student outcomes and support innovation across the economy; and (e) deliver positive student experiences across the tertiary education sector; and (f) promote competition and innovation across the tertiary education sector; and (g) support Australian values, including equality of opportunity, the rule of law, and Western liberal democratic traditions; and (h) drive efficiency across the sector to provide value for money for students and the Australian taxpayer; and (i) reduce regulatory burdens on the tertiary education sector where practicable.