Universities Accord (Opening the Doors of Opportunity) Bill 2026

Senator LAMBIE (Tasmania) (11:59): I'd just like to say that I supported all of Senator Pocock's amendments. Unfortunately, my amendment isn't here and ready, which is really unfortunate, but I just want to say a few words for a couple of minutes, because I imagine there's a lot of kids out there to whom we're still saying, 'Dream a little cheaper.' I just want to remind those kids out there what happened a few years ago when the Morrison government brought in the job-ready graduates program, making arts degrees more expensive.

Remember those kids? Remember them? I thought that move was appalling, and so did many others in this chamber.

Telling our kids they had to dream a little cheaper—well, I tell you what: fair go! The Labor Party said, when they were in opposition, that they would get rid of the job-ready graduates scheme. As a matter of fact, they took that to the election last time.

It's just another failure, on the government, when it comes to our young kids and giving them an education that will serve their purposes for the rest of their lives. Well, the government are halfway through their second term and they still haven't fixed this. That would tell me that they have no intention of doing so.

The government commissioned the universities accord to have a look at the scheme—in 2023, for you kids out there. The interim report was very, very clear that the job-ready graduate scheme needed to be redesigned before it caused long-term damage. Those were their words.

Three years later, we have a bill in front of us today which doesn't mention a damn word about the job-ready graduates scheme, for you kids out there. And you know what's even worse? I've got the Greens over here saying they're there for you kids—well and truly saying they're behind you on this—and yet they've just done a deal with this government to get this legislation through.

But they couldn't have the courage to make sure, before they did this deal, that this was brought back—this money for you. And there's no mention from the Greens about the job-ready graduates scheme, like I said. And here's what Senator Faruqi said to you guys in 2024: Labor should have dumped Morrison's Job-Ready Graduates scheme the second they came to power.

And she said: Students starting university next year shouldn't have to cop these ridiculous fees. Yet here we are today. The Greens have come through to do a university accord, and yet they couldn't stand their ground a little bit longer and say: 'We're not doing this until you go back to your word'—to what was promised to you kids out there.

That's where we're at today in this Senate chamber. So if you young kids out there think the Greens are doing you a favour while you're at university, then have a good look and think again, because this was their perfect opportunity to do something and do a deal for this, finally, once and for all. But oh no.

So I just say this to you kids: you just keep dreaming a little cheaper—just keep doing that—because a deal could have been done for you today, and it has not been. Bill, as amended, agreed to. Bill reported with amendments; report adopted.