Marielle Smith (SA, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

Over the course of this inquiry, our committee heard from 81 higher education providers and major sector bodies. We received over 200 submissions and held public hearings across three states. The fact that became incredibly clear to us over the course of this inquiry is that poor governance at our universities has failed both staff and students, who told us over and over again that they felt betrayed, undermined and let down.

We heard from staff who have dedicated decades to teaching and supporting students but who were shut out from decision-making processes. Students, who were advised that budget cuts had led to overbooked classes, felt like their overall learning experience was being undermined, and, during some classes, we heard, students were sitting on the floor. They could not take a place at the table. Clearly, it is unacceptable for students to not get the education they deserve, students who often leave behind their homes and their families to go to university to fulfill that lifelong dream. We were told that, when students raised their concerns, they felt like they weren't heard. They felt like they were openly dismissed or ridiculed and that they didn't have a say at the table.

Staff told us of the insecure work and its impact on their lives, and, in some institutions, we heard 70 per cent of teaching was being performed by casual or sessional staff. And we heard how these staff were working unpaid hours, struggling to access basic entitlements and did not have the security to help underpin the quality of education that their students expected. Staff and students felt betrayed.

For many young Australians, tertiary education is the key to unlocking the future they dream of, but poor governance at our universities has let these students down. We made a number of recommendations, including ones which went to executive salaries. Our committee heard that 300 university executives were earning more than their state premiers. I fully understand and accept that universities need to be competitive in the fight for global talent, but they are also public institutions, established for the public good, and it was our committee's view that their salary arrangements should reflect that. In our interim report we recommended that their salaries be guided by new classifications and remuneration ranges set by the Remuneration Tribunal.

Our final report added an extra eight recommendations for change, including reviewing rules to ensure public education and research stay front and centre and updating the governance of universities to make sure that leadership reflects that mission.

We recommended stronger guidance from TEQSA, improved accountability and more data collection on the number of casual staff and a statement of expectations on internal governance issues. Our recommendations went to a much greater role for TEQSA in monitoring and reporting on course quality and staffing, greater powers when it came to matters in the interests of students, and a positive duty on providers to comply with the threshold standards. These recommendations built upon our interim report and are about ensuring our universities meet the standards and expectations of students, staff and communities at their heart. We need to raise the bar on the governance in higher education, and our report lays out a plan to do that.

I want to acknowledge the important work underway by the Minister for Education and the way he has dealt with both our inquiry and the other reviews that have been underfoot. We know that universities will now be required to report annually on their compliance on an 'if not, why not' basis. We know there are big reforms to TEQSA coming thanks to the minister's work and the work of state and territory governments. Our government is going to give TEQSA the power they need to step in and act when required, including on university governance.

This report was really significant. It came off the back of staff and students in the sector who were crying out for reform; staff and students who felt thoroughly betrayed in a sector which should be the pinnacle of standards in our community. So many young people strive intensely to go to university and they give up a lot to do so because they know a good university education can and will change their lives—not just their lives but their families' lives—and it will add to the broader development of knowledge and research in our community, which makes Australia competitive and which makes Australia great. But they have been let down by failed governance processes in this sector, and that has to change. There is no longer time for excuses. There is no longer time for delay. There is a road map now thanks to the report of our committee. I want to acknowledge Senator Sheldon and all of the members who served on this committee, including Senator Faruqi and Senator Kovacic as well, for their work in this report.