Universities Accord (Opening the Doors of Opportunity) Bill 2026

Senator FARUQI (New South Wales—Deputy Leader of the Australian Greens) (10:24): by leave—I move Greens amendments (1), (2), (3), (4), (5) and (6) on sheet 4118 together: (1) Schedule 1, item 22, page 31 (line 24), omit "Providers", substitute "Medical course providers". (2) Schedule 1, item 22, page 31 (lines 25 to 27), omit subsection 36-65(1), substitute: (1) This section applies in relation to a higher education provider that has a *medical courses profile for a year.

(1A) The Minister may, in writing, determine conditions that a specified higher education provider must comply with in relation to *medical courses provided by the provider, for the purposes of this Division. (3) Schedule 1, item 22, page 32 (line 2), omit "subsection (1)", substitute "subsection (1A)". (4) Schedule 1, item 22, page 32 (line 18), omit "subsection (1)", substitute "subsection (1A)".

(5) Schedule 1, item 22, page 32 (line 20), omit "subsection (1)", substitute "subsection (1A)". (6) Schedule 1, item 37, page 35 (before line 22), before the definition of medical courses profile, insert: medical courses has the meaning given by section 30-70. These amendments work in conjunction with the amendment on sheet 4117 because, without these amendments, the minister would still be able to have a set of powers to impose on providers when administrating medical courses, as exists now.

With these amendments, the minister will have restrained powers. This is to allow for the continuation of incentives to grow medical student numbers and completions and First Nations medical student places and to address regional shortages as well. We know what a difficult situation it is that medical students are in already.

So this will at least make life a little bit easier. With the government's help, again, these amendments will hopefully pass the chamber today.