Universities Accord (Opening the Doors of Opportunity) Bill 2026

Senator WALSH (Victoria—Minister for Early Childhood Education and Minister for Youth) (19:07): I thank all senators for their contributions to this debate. This bill will help to open the doors of opportunity to our universities for more young people from poor families, from regional Australia and from the bush. It introduces a new managed growth funding system that will provide an extra $3.6 billion and support an extra 230,000 commencing students over the next decade.

It establishes a new demand driven, needs based funding system to help students from poor backgrounds, Indigenous students and students studying in the regions to participate and succeed in their studies. It also gives the Australian Tertiary Education Commission the power to make decisions on international student allocations for eligible higher education providers each year.

The overwhelming majority of submissions to the Senate Education and Employment Legislation Committee inquiry into this bill support the aims of this bill. As an example, Alliance 2050 support this bill, and, in their submission, they say: This Bill is a critical step in implementing the policy and funding framework to deliver the Accord's goals of increasing tertiary participation and equity by 2050.

James Cook University said: The Bill has the potential to introduce fairness into educational outcomes by addressing the failed market dynamics in the higher education system that has for too long disadvantaged regional people and places. The University of Tasmania said: It is one of the most important improvements to university funding in a generation. In their final report into these bills, the committee also acknowledged this broad support from the higher education sector, particularly in enshrining needs based funding into legislation and establishing the managed growth funding system through the ATEC.

The government acknowledges the concerns raised in the committee's report. The government will be moving and supporting some amendments which address many of these concerns. The government notes the recommendations from the Australian Greens, and I acknowledge that amendments circulated by Senator Faruqi go to some of these recommendations.

I thank Senator Faruqi for her engagement and collaborative approach to amendments on this bill. The government also notes the additional comments and recommendations made by Senator David Pocock. A number of these recommendations have been covered in amendments from both the government and the Australian Greens.

The government notes the remaining recommendations made by Senator Pocock, and I thank him for his interest in this bill. I also want to thank the opposition for their engagement on this bill, and I acknowledge that they have moved amendments, some of which the government will be supporting. This is an important bill.

It means more young people from poor families, from the regions and from the bush getting a crack at going to university and getting the support they need when they get there. It will open the doors of opportunity wider. I commend the bill to the chamber.

I table an addendum to the revised explanatory memorandum relating to the Universities Accord (Opening the Doors of Opportunity) Bill 2026. The ACTING DEPUTY PRESIDENT ( Senator Ciccone ): The question is that the amendment to the second reading motion moved by Senator Faruqi be agreed to. It being after 6.30 pm, the division must be deferred until the next day of sitting.

The debate is adjourned accordingly.