Steve Georganas (Adelaide, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

I rise to speak about this very important bill, a bill that will shape the future of how we learn, how we train and how we prepare our country for decades ahead. Of course, I'm talking about the Universities Accord (Australian Tertiary Education Commission) Bill 2025 and its companion, the Universities Accord (Australian Tertiary Education Commission) (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2025

At their core, these bills are about creating a stronger, fairer and more coordinated tertiary education system for everyone. For years we've asked our universities and our TAFEs to do a huge amount of heavy lifting, and they've done a great job. They've served us well, but they've had to do it without a central body looking ahead. We need the central body looking ahead, planning across the whole system and making sure that Australia is ready for the challenges and the opportunities of the future.

The truth is Australia's been missing parts of the bigger picture sometimes, and that's exactly what the Australian Tertiary Education Commission, or ATEC, is designed to fix. ATEC will act as the system's big-picture planner. It will guide how universities and vocational education work together, not just for the next year but for the next generation. That's so important, because it isn't something that we just dreamed up. The Australian Universities Accord Panel released its final report in 2024. This was the government's major review of the higher education sector, and it spelled out clearly that, without a dedicated and independent steward like ATEC, Australia can't properly prepare for our future skills needs or meet the expectations of students.

The accord report made a powerful point: in the coming decades, around 80 per cent of all new jobs will require a TAFE or university qualification—80 per cent. That means more Australians will need to be able to access tertiary education and more pathways into study—whether it be through TAFE or through other higher educational options—and more support to actually complete the courses. So this bill is about getting ahead of that challenge of seeking the future, seeing what it'll be like and preparing ourselves for the future demands.

Out of the 47 recommendations from the accord report, this government is implementing 31, and that includes some major improvements: doubling the number of university hubs across regional and suburban Australia, making it easier for people to study close to home—we know that, when you have options to study closer to home, it becomes a much easier task; expanding free university bridging courses, helping more Australians get the skills they need to begin a degree; and something students have been asking for for many, many years, and that is paid practical. For the first time, university students doing mandatory placements in areas like nursing, teaching and social work will finally receive some financial relief. We all know the pressures students are under. Many work part-time jobs. They're looking after family members and dealing with rising costs all while studying, so paid prac will be life-changing for so many students.

We're also strengthening student advocacy. Under the new rules, at least 40 per cent of student services and amenity fees must go to student led organisations, making sure that students have a real voice on campus. And we're expanding Commonwealth Supported Places for First Nations students and introducing a national code to better respond to gender based violence in higher education, something that has been urgently needed. Let's not forget: we've already cut HECS debts by 20 per cent for current students and graduates, and that's real relief for so many Australian students.

ATEC is the next great thing this government will implement. This new commission will have a clear mission guided by the new National Tertiary Education Objective. Basically, one shared vision for the whole tertiary system means universities and TAFEs will finally be working towards the same goals, not competing or operating in separate silos. ATEC will have three expert commissioners—a chief commissioner, a First Nations commissioner and another commissioner—with deep expertise. At least one must have strong VET knowledge, because vocational education is just as important as university education. These commissioners a appointed based on experience, not politics, and they'll make decisions based on evidence, research, fairness and what's best for Australian students, enforcing the commission's independence.

One of ATEC's main jobs will be working with universities to create mission based compacts. These are agreements that spell out what each university actually stands for—their strengths, their goals and how they serve their community. And every university, of course, is different. Some lead in medical research, others in teaching, others in science and others in regional development or industry partnerships. These compacts will reflect that diversity while still lining up with national goals. We want to ensure that they're not rigid. They'll evolve as circumstances change, when different needs arise through different industries. If a university hits a bump in the road, where enrolments shift or there are economic changes or workforce shortages, ATEC won't punish them; it will work alongside them and to adjust the compact if needed to achieve their objectives and help them improve. It's about a partnership. It's not about punishment. Only if a university consistently fails to meet its commitments and only after genuine engagement would ATEC take stronger measures like applying a default compact.

This is about fairness, accountability and supporting high-quality education across the broader spectrum. It's about creating a stable and universal system to support higher educational institutions and, of course, students. In the years ahead, as the government introduces needs based funding and a more sustainable growth system for students places, ATEC will help manage that growth so it's strategic and supports national priorities. It may also have a role in allocating international student commencements in the future. Importantly, equity is built into the heart of this reform. ATEC must always consider the needs of people who face barriers to education, such as First Nations students, people with disabilities, those from lower income backgrounds and Australians living in regional or remote areas. To support this, they'll have a dedicated First Nations commissioner and a First Nations advisory committee, ensuring Indigenous voices sit at the centre of decision-making.

Finally, ATEC won't be working in a vacuum; it'll be consulting widely with universities, students, industry, state and tertiary governments, and communities. Every year it'll publish a state and tertiary education system report so everyone can see how we're tracking. This is very exciting news—especially for my home state of South Australia, with the high-tech defence builds that are taking place. We will need, it's estimated, over 30,000 employees over the next 10 to 15 years. Many of them will come through universities, TAFEs and higher technical learning. ATEC will play a massive role in the universities' goals and where they specialise, ensuring we're training students and people for the future positions that will exist not just in South Australia but all over Australia.

When we think of education and we go back to my days in school—or your days, Deputy Speaker Young—there are now job titles and technology that weren't even dreamt of back then. This is evolving so quickly, so we need to be on top of it. As high-tech industries evolve and come to fruition, we need to be prepared with a workforce—and that workforce will come from universities and TAFEs, and through higher learning.

I commend these bills to the House. It is a very good policy area that ensures we plan for the future and we plan together in partnership with our universities, TAFEs and vet courses, to ensure we produce the workforce that's required to keep this country's economy going for many years into the future.

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