Mehreen Faruqi (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

by leave—At the request of Senator Thorpe, in respect of the Universities Accord (Australian Tertiary Education Commission) Bill 2025, I move the amendments on sheet 3730 together:

(1) Clause 5, page 4 (after line 19), after the definition of First Nations Commissioner, insert:

First Nations data sovereignty principles: see subsection 25(1A).

(2) Clause 19, page 13 (after line 3), after paragraph (d), insert:

(da) to uphold and safeguard First Nations data sovereignty principles; and

(3) Clause 25, page 16 (lines 3 to 9), omit subclause (1), substitute:

First Nations Advisory Committee

(1) The ATEC must establish a committee to be known as the First Nations Advisory Committee to provide advice and recommendations to the ATEC in relation to:

(a) participation and outcomes for Aboriginal persons and Torres Strait Islanders in tertiary education; and

(b) Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander knowledge; and

(c) upholding and safeguarding First Nations data sovereignty principles.

First Nations data sovereignty principles

(1A) The treatment and management of data, information or knowledge, in any format or medium, which is about, or may affect, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, collectively or individually, should:

(a) assert the right of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, communities and organisations to maintain, control, protect, develop and use data as it relates to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people; and

(b) reflect Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander interests, values and priorities, including cultural ways of knowing, being and doing; and

(c) be accessible, appropriate and meet Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander needs; and

(d) be collected with free, prior and informed consent, including respect for confidentiality; and

(e) be stored securely; and

(f) be returned in an easily understood and meaningful way; and

(g) be interpreted by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander experts, ensuring it reflects Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander lived experiences and perspectives; and

(h) be used to advance self-determination and development; and

(i) only be used how Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, communities and organisations agree.

These principles are the First Nations data sovereignty principles.

Question negatived.