Universities Accord (Opening the Doors of Opportunity) Bill 2026

Senator O'SULLIVAN (Western Australia—Deputy Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate) (10:11): These are amendments which, out of an abundance of caution, we will oppose. It is a finely balanced issue. We oppose these amendments because they go to one of the central budgetary risks in this bill that we identified when it was first introduced.

One of the main changes in this legislation is a change to the way domestic places are funded. Currently, unis are given a bucket of money and they decide the types of places. That changes under this bill.

Unis are given a number of places, but not all places cost the same. That creates a budgetary risk if providers decide to deliver high-cost places. This designated places regime gives the minister one way to control that risk because ministers can designate the number of places that can be given in particular types of courses, and there might be other reasons to exercise that power in the national interest.

Right now, the designated places regime is not in use, but it might be necessary in the future if we're to bring the budget back to balance under this Labor government's mess.