Universities Accord (Opening the Doors of Opportunity) Bill 2026

Senator FARUQI (New South Wales—Deputy Leader of the Australian Greens) (10:26): by leave—I move Greens amendments (1) and (2) on sheet 4119 together: (1) Schedule 1, item 2, page 9 (line 16), after "account", insert "and publish". (2) Schedule 1, item 2, page 9 (line 29), at the end of section 30-45, add: Statement to be published (3) The *ATEC must, as soon as practicable after the ATEC has allocated the total number of Commonwealth supported places specified in a *total allocation pool determination for a year, publish on the ATEC's website a summary of the matters the ATEC took into account when allocating those places for the year.

This bill and, in general, the Albanese government seem to be allergic to transparency. Staff, students and universities do not accept that student allocation decisions can be made behind closed doors, never to see the light of day, with no publication of reasons or information about those decisions and how they were arrived at. These amendments insert a critical transparency measure requiring ATEC to publish the considerations it takes into account when allocating Commonwealth supported places for each and every year.

The government has decided that it will now support this transparency measure being inserted into the bill, which will make a really significant difference to universities in planning for the future and best providing for their students.