Jenny McAllister (NSW, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme) | Link to this | Hansard source

I present five government responses to committee reports as listed on today's Order of Business. In accordance with the usual practice, I seek leave to incorporate the documents in Hansard.

Leave granted.

The documents read as follows—

Government response to the Senate Education and Employment Committee reports into the quality of governance at Australian higher education providers

June 2026

Overview

The Australian Government (the Government) thanks the Senate Education and Employment Committee (the Committee) for its inquiry into the quality of governance at Australian higher education providers and acknowledges the contributions to this of staff, students, the sector, communities and other stakeholders.

Australian universities receive more than $22 billion in public funding each year and play a central role in Australia's civic, economic and social life through education and research. As public institutions, universities should be held to high standards of governance, integrity and accountability.

The interim and final reports of the Committee highlight serious and troubling challenges across parts of the sector that have undermined trust, performance and universities' social licence.

The Government is taking decisive action to address these issues through regulatory reform, strengthening transparency and accountability and setting clearer expectations of university governing bodies.

This Government response addresses the Committee's interim report published on 19 September 2025 and final report published on 11 December 2025.

The Government acknowledges and notes the additional 16 recommendations from the Australian Greens in the interim and final reports, and the 17 recommendations made by Senator David Pocock in the final report.

Australian Government Response

The Government is committed to improving the transparency and accountability of Australian public university governing bodies and has initiated a range of actions to strengthen governance arrangements to ensure governance at Australian universities aligns with the expectations of students, staff and their communities.

The Government supports staff and student involvement in the management of their university communities and in university decision-making processes, and supports elected staff and student representation on university councils.

The Government notes Australia's public universities are statutory corporations established under state or territory legislation, except for the Australian National University, and acknowledges responsibility for the establishing acts of universities rests with relevant jurisdictions.

University governance improvements

In January 2025, Education Ministers agreed membership of the Expert Council on University Governance. The Council was formed to develop new university governance principles (the Principles) and provide recommendations to strengthen governance in Australia's public universities.

In October 2025, Education Ministers considered the Principles and recommendations from the Expert Council alongside recommendations from this Senate Committee's interim report. The Government has announced it will implement the Principles and additional transparency requirements by writing them into Commonwealth regulation through the Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2021.

Public universities will be required to report annually on their compliance with the Principles and additional transparency requirements on an 'if not, why not' basis to the independent higher education sector regulator, the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA). This will allow TEQSA to take compliance action against universities that repeatedly fail to meet the Principles and additional transparency requirements.

The Principles and additional transparency requirements will strengthen accountability and public trust in Australian universities and provide a framework for good governance and performance that will benefit universities, students, staff and the communities they serve.

The Principles set strong expectations across eight key themes:

In line with recommendations from this Senate Committee, the Government has also announced that university governing bodies will be required to meet additional transparency requirements, which include publishing:

The Government expects the Principles and additional transparency requirements will be incorporated into the Threshold Standards and commence from mid-2026.

Further, the Government, in collaboration with the Commonwealth Remuneration Tribunal, states and territories, and stakeholders including the Universities Chancellors Council, will establish a framework for Vice-Chancellor remuneration.

Modernising and strengthening TEQSA's powers

In September and October 2025, the Government consulted on opportunities to modernise and strengthen TEQSA's powers to better meet the standards students, staff and the community expect of our universities. This included ensuring the higher education regulatory system is student-centred and responsive to contemporary community expectations, including on university governance, and that TEQSA is equipped to act proactively where risks emerge.

Feedback from this process will inform further improvements to the higher education legislative and regulatory framework and will ensure TEQSA can step in and act when justified in the public interest.

Student and staff wellbeing

The Government established the independent National Student Ombudsman (NSO) to investigate and resolve student complaints about universities. The NSO commenced operations on 1 February 2025 and aims to provide an effective, trauma-informed complaints mechanism for higher education students.

The NSO has strong investigative powers, similar to those of a Royal Commission, and can make recommendations to a provider about the actions that should be taken to resolve a complaint. The NSO has the power to monitor a provider's implementation of its recommendations, as well as share information with relevant regulators to provide the basis for potential compliance action where necessary.

If a provider does not take appropriate action in response to NSO recommendations, the NSO is able to provide the Minister for Education with a copy of an investigation report for tabling in Parliament. The NSO reports annually on complaint volumes, complaints outcomes and compliance with recommendations.

TEQSA has issued a Statement of Regulatory Expectations on student grievance and complaint mechanisms which sets out TEQSA's expectations relating to governance and accountability regarding student complaints, including assurance and reporting to higher education providers' governance bodies.

TEQSA has published a Statement of Regulatory Expectations on compliance with workplace obligations. This Statement sets out TEQSA's expectations of registered higher education providers to ensure they are meeting their obligations under workplace laws (as defined in section 12 of the Fair Work Act 2009) to their staff.

Further changes to the higher education legislative and regulatory framework, as outlined above, will support TEQSA to develop new Statements of Regulatory Expectation, including on university governing bodies reflecting expectations of the communities they serve and meaningfully incorporating staff and student perspectives.

Better regulation

The Government has established the Better Regulation Working Group to streamline processes and improve efficiency in the higher education sector. The Working Group is considering opportunities to make government regulation and internal provider operations more efficient for higher education providers, while continuing to assure quality and confidence in the sector.

TEQSA and the Australian Skills Quality Authority have jointly released the Dual Sector Regulatory Strategy to reduce duplication and streamline regulation for Australia's 57 dual sector providers.

TEQSA is working closely with agencies including the Department of Education, the Fair Work Ombudsman and the interim Australian Tertiary Education Commission (ATEC) on data sharing and reducing duplicative data reporting requirements where possible.

Research, the Australian Tertiary Education Commission (ATEC) and the former Coalition government's Job-ready Graduates changes

The Strategic Examination of Research and Development (SERD) Final Report was provided to the Government for consideration by the SERD Expert Panel in December 2025. The Government is considering the report's recommendations.

Recommendations regarding the ATEC and the former Coalition government's Job-ready Graduates changes have been addressed in other recent Australian Government Responses to Senate Inquiries.

Australian Government response to Interim report recommendations

Australian Government response to Final report recommendations

Australian Greens Party additional comments and recommendations

Interim Report

Recommendation 1: Australian Tertiary Education Commission's foundational legislation should clearly articulate the public mission and the educational, social, and civic functions of a public university sector.

The Australian Government acknowledges the range of views presented to the inquiry and notes this recommendation.

The Australian Government's response, as outlined above, reflects a range of actions the Government is taking to strengthen university governance, to support staff and student involvement in the management of their university communities and in university decision-making processes, and to build a better and fairer tertiary education system.

Recommendation 2: Establishing acts of universities be amended to clarify their central purpose is public research and education, not commercial or corporate performance.

The Australian Government acknowledges the range of views presented to the inquiry and notes this recommendation.

The Australian Government's response, as outlined above, reflects a range of actions the Government is taking to strengthen university governance, to support staff and student involvement in the management of their university communities and in university decision-making processes, and to build a better and fairer tertiary education system.

Recommendation 3: The Government immediately reverse the Job-ready Graduates Package fee hikes and funding cuts.

The Australian Government acknowledges the range of views presented to the inquiry and notes this recommendation.

The Australian Government's response, as outlined above, reflects a range of actions the Government is taking to strengthen university governance, to support staff and student involvement in the management of their university communities and in university decision-making processes, and to build a better and fairer tertiary education system.

Recommendation 4: Meetings of all university councils and governing bodies be held in public and be livestreamed online.

The Australian Government acknowledges the range of views presented to the inquiry and notes this recommendation.

The Australian Government encourages universities to consider this recommendation in consultation with their students, staff, communities and other stakeholders.

Recommendation 5: All higher education provider governing bodies reflect the community's diversity including First Nations peoples, culturally and racially marginalised people, LGBTIQA+ people and people with disabilities.

The Australian Government acknowledges the range of views presented to the inquiry and notes this recommendation.

The Australian Government encourages universities to consider this recommendation in consultation with their students, staff, communities and other stakeholders.

Recommendation 6: The majority of members on university governing bodies have public administration and higher education expertise.

The Australian Government acknowledges the range of views presented to the inquiry and notes this recommendation.

The Australian Government encourages universities to consider this recommendation in consultation with their students, staff, communities and other stakeholders.

Recommendation 7: A minimum membership requirement of at least 50 per cent democratically elected staff and student representatives (including undergraduate and postgraduate students) be set for governing bodies.

The Australian Government acknowledges the range of views presented to the inquiry and notes this recommendation.

The Australian Government encourages universities to consider this recommendation in consultation with their students, staff, communities and other stakeholders.

Recommendation 8: In addition to council minutes, reports produced for council and annual self-performance reviews be published on university websites.

The Australian Government acknowledges the range of views presented to the inquiry and notes this recommendation.

The Australian Government encourages universities to consider this recommendation in consultation with their students, staff, communities and other stakeholders.

Recommendation 9: Complaints processes be examined and enhanced by working with students, staff, and student bodies.

The Australian Government acknowledges the range of views presented to the inquiry and notes this recommendation.

The Australian Government encourages universities to consider this recommendation in consultation with their students, staff, communities and other stakeholders.

Recommendation 10: The TEQSA regulatory framework be amended to include a consultation framework for how universities meaningfully involve, consult and work with students and staff as partners in major change proposals, prior to decisions being made.

The Australian Government acknowledges the range of views presented to the inquiry and notes this recommendation.

The Australian Government's response, as outlined above, reflects a range of actions the Government is taking to strengthen university governance, to support staff and student involvement in the management of their university communities and in university decision-making processes, and to build a better and fairer tertiary education system.

Final Report

Recommendation 1: To limit the use of consultants and outsourcing at universities, an appropriate Federal government agency develops principles for this purpose that prioritise in-house expertise.

The Australian Government acknowledges the range of views presented to the inquiry and notes this recommendation.

The Australian Government's response, as outlined above, reflects a range of actions the Government is taking to strengthen university governance, to support staff and student involvement in the management of their university communities and in university decision-making processes, and to build a better and fairer tertiary education system.

Recommendation 2: Federal government funding to public universities be increased to fully fund universities and make them free, starting by increasing funding to at least the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development average.

The Australian Government acknowledges the range of views presented to the inquiry and notes this recommendation.

The Australian Government's response, as outlined above, reflects a range of actions the Government is taking to strengthen university governance, to support staff and student involvement in the management of their university communities and in university decision-making processes, and to build a better and fairer tertiary education system.

Recommendation 3: Universities implement protections for whistleblowers and student activists, including the establishment of a Whistleblower Protection Authority, and protect the right of students and staff to protest on university campuses.

The Australian Government acknowledges the range of views presented to the inquiry and notes this recommendation.

The Australian Government encourages universities to consider this recommendation in consultation with their students, staff, communities and other stakeholders.

Recommendation 4: Require all public universities to adopt transparent ethical investment and procurement policies, with binding commitments to divest from weapons manufacturers, fossil fuel corporations, and gambling industries.

The Australian Government acknowledges the range of views presented to the inquiry and notes this recommendation.

The Australian Government encourages universities to consider this recommendation in consultation with their students, staff, communities and other stakeholders.

Recommendation 5: Establish a publicly accessible register of all university partnerships, sponsorships, and funding arrangements with corporations and external entities, including the nature and value of the partnership.

The Australian Government acknowledges the range of views presented to the inquiry and notes this recommendation.

The Australian Government encourages universities to consider this recommendation in consultation with their students, staff, communities and other stakeholders.

Recommendation 6: Increase PhD stipends to above the minimum wage.

The Australian Government acknowledges the range of views presented to the inquiry and notes this recommendation.

The Australian Government's response, as outlined above, reflects a range of actions the Government is taking to strengthen university governance, to support staff and student involvement in the management of their university communities and in university decision-making processes, and to build a better and fairer tertiary education system.

Senator David Pocock additional comments and recommendations

Final Report

Recommendation 1: ATEC should prioritise work to develop and consult on new models to sustainably fund Australia's universities to achieve their primary purpose in the public good. ATEC's work program must also tackle with urgency reforming the failed Job Ready Graduates Scheme and changing the timing of indexation of student debt.

The Australian Government acknowledges the range of views presented to the inquiry and notes this recommendation.

The Australian Government's response, as outlined above, reflects a range of actions the Government is taking to strengthen university governance, to support staff and student involvement in the management of their university communities and in university decision-making processes, and to build a better and fairer tertiary education system.

Recommendation 2: With due consideration of the final report of the Strategic Examination of Research and Development review, the Government should commit to a pathway for increasing investment in research over the short, medium and longer term. This should also address the long-neglected issue of increasing PhD stipend base rates to support the next generation of researchers and academics our country will rely upon.

The Australian Government acknowledges the range of views presented to the inquiry and notes this recommendation.

The Australian Government's response, as outlined above, reflects a range of actions the Government is taking to strengthen university governance, to support staff and student involvement in the management of their university communities and in university decision-making processes, and to build a better and fairer tertiary education system.

Recommendation 3: Inquiries into university governance should be replicated in all other Australian states and territories to ensure that universities are meeting community expectations regarding governance practices.

The Australian Government acknowledges the range of views presented to the inquiry and notes this recommendation is a matter for States and Territories.

Recommendation 4: Further to the Committee's first recommendation, state and territory governments, in reviewing the establishing acts of universities, should also amend those acts to ensure they meet, at a minimum, the recommendations of this inquiry and the Expert Council. University establishing acts ought to have explicit public good objectives and should require that governing bodies have the appropriate structure and composition to meet such public good objectives.

The Australian Government acknowledges the range of views presented to the inquiry and notes this recommendation is a matter for States and Territories.

Recommendation 5: Independent bodies representing university stakeholders be created with powers to appoint new governing body members and, in cases of serious failure, breach, or loss of confidence, to terminate the appointment of existing members.

The Australian Government acknowledges the range of views presented to the inquiry and notes this recommendation.

The Australian Government encourages universities to consider this recommendation in consultation with their students, staff, communities and other stakeholders.

Recommendation 6: Update university practices and procedures to prohibit or severely limit the circumstances in which non-disclosure or non-disparagement clauses or agreements can be used and establish a mechanism to oversee and challenge any such use.

The Australian Government acknowledges the range of views presented to the inquiry and notes this recommendation.

The Australian Government encourages universities to consider this recommendation in consultation with their students, staff, communities and other stakeholders.

Recommendation 7: The Threshold Standards should prescribe an explicit minimum proportion of elected staff and student members on Australian university councils of at least one-half.

The Australian Government acknowledges the range of views presented to the inquiry and notes this recommendation.

The Australian Government's response, as outlined above, reflects a range of actions the Government is taking to strengthen university governance, to support staff and student involvement in the management of their university communities and in university decision-making processes, and to build a better and fairer tertiary education system.

Recommendation 8: All universities should transition to adopt a single, transparent, standard method for calculating and publishing their 'underlying operating result', developed with the ATEC and appropriate consultation, with the full methodology openly disclosed and reasons for inclusion or exclusion of revenues and expenditures individually and publicly reported. In addition to this standard measure, universities should also report common private-sector indicators such as earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA). States and territories should align their reporting requirements with this standard method.

The Australian Government acknowledges the range of views presented to the inquiry and notes this recommendation.

The Australian Government encourages universities to consider this recommendation in consultation with their students, staff, communities and other stakeholders.

The Australian Government's response, as outlined above, reflects a range of actions the Government is taking to strengthen university governance, to support staff and student involvement in the management of their university communities and in university decision-making processes, and to build a better and fairer tertiary education system.

Recommendation 9: Universities make disclosure-of-interests registers for senior executives and governing body members public and update them in real time.

The Australian Government acknowledges the range of views presented to the inquiry and supports-in-principle this recommendation.

The Australian Government encourages universities to consider this recommendation in consultation with their students, staff, communities and other stakeholders.

Recommendation 10: To strengthen financial accountability, prevent conflicts of interest, and align university governance with established public sector integrity standards, universities should be required to report all procurement contracts through their jurisdictions' reporting portal. For the ANU, this would mean registering their contracts with the Commonwealth's public sector reporting platform, AusTender.

The Australian Government acknowledges the range of views presented to the inquiry and notes this recommendation.

The Australian Government encourages universities to consider this recommendation in consultation with their students, staff, communities and other stakeholders.

Recommendation 11: Universities should adopt a clear transparency framework under which council meetings would be open to the public and livestreamed by default. Only a tightly limited in camera session would remain, reserved for matters where there is a demonstrable and compelling public interest in confidentiality. Council should publish reasons for the confidentiality of each in camera item. To support this, universities should establish clear and codified criteria that distinguish legitimate confidentia lity from unnecessary secrecy, ensuring that staff, students, and the broader community can be confident that closed sessions are the exception rather than the norm.

The Australian Government acknowledges the range of views presented to the inquiry and notes this recommendation.

The Australian Government encourages universities to consider this recommendation in consultation with their students, staff, communities and other stakeholders.

Recommendation 12: Specific timeframes for publishing council minutes should be established and rules adopted governing the appropriate labelling and sourcing of all reports and documentation presented to council. This will both improve transparency and also help guard against any unwitting reliance on data, analysis and documents provided by external consultants by council members in their decision making.

The Australian Government acknowledges the range of views presented to the inquiry and supports-in-principle this recommendation.

The Australian Government encourages universities to consider this recommendation in consultation with their students, staff, communities and other stakeholders.

Recommendation 13: The Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standards) 2021 should be amended to require all Australian universities to maintain genuinely independent, safe and transparent complaints and misconduct-handling systems, including for complaints made against senior leadership. In the case of the latter, such processes must be fit-for-purpose and not rest in the hands of more junior staff.

The Australian Government acknowledges the range of views presented to the inquiry and supports-in-principle this recommendation.

The Australian Government's response, as outlined above, reflects a range of actions the Government is taking to strengthen university governance, to support staff and student involvement in the management of their university communities and in university decision-making processes, and to build a better and fairer tertiary education system.

Recommendation 14: Universities should be required to publicly disclose all consultancy contracts, consistent with Recommendation 10, and to publish any consultant-produced advice in a timely manner, including the underlying data and methodologies, with only narrow and clearly defined exemptions.

The Australian Government acknowledges the range of views presented to the inquiry and notes this recommendation.

The Australian Government encourages universities to consider this recommendation in consultation with their students, staff, communities and other stakeholders.

Recommendation 15: To prevent real or perceived conflicts of interest arising from the revolving door between universities and consulting firms, individuals should be prohibited from holding senior university roles and consultancy positions concurrently, and a mandatory cooling-off period should apply before a former executive or council member can be employed by a consultancy firm, and vice versa.

The Australian Government acknowledges the range of views presented to the inquiry and notes this recommendation.

The Australian Government encourages universities to consider this recommendation in consultation with their students, staff, communities and other stakeholders.

Recommendation 16: That the Australian National University Act 1991 be amended to establish a statutory Australian National University Forum or Senate as a dedicated internal accountability body, with defined powers of providing advice, scrutiny, public questioning, information access, and appointment and recall in relation to the Chancellor and council members.

The Australian Government acknowledges the range of views presented to the inquiry and notes this recommendation.

The Australian Government's response, as outlined above, reflects a range of actions the Government is taking to strengthen university governance, to support staff and student involvement in the management of their university communities and in university decision-making processes, and to build a better and fairer tertiary education system.

Recommendation 17: That the ANU leadership methodically work through and provide a public response to each of the recommendations in the final report of the Australian National University Governance Project.

The Australian Government acknowledges the range of views presented to the inquiry and notes this recommendation.

The Australian Government encourages the ANU to consider this recommendation in consultation with their students, staff, communities and other stakeholders.

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Australian Government response to the Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade report:

Australia's thematic sanctions framework

JUNE 2026   

Introduction

The Australian Government welcomes the opportunity to respond to the report of the Joint Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade on its inquiry into the operation of the Autonomous Sanctions Amendment (Magnitsky-style and other Thematic Sanctions) Act 2021 (the Amending Act).

Since the introduction of the Amending Act, the use of thematic sanctions has steadily increased as threats to international security and situations of international concern have grown in number and complexity. Sanctions listings are carefully assessed on a case-by-case basis against the relevant thematic framework.

As at 20 November, Australia has imposed thematic sanctions in response to various situations of international concern, including:

The Australian Government uses sanctions as one of the tools available to impose costs on foreign individuals, entities, regimes and governments for breaches of international law, human rights abuses and violations, and other behaviours that are contrary to Australian values and national interests. Australia's sanctions frameworks equip the Government to respond flexibly and effectively to situations of international concern. The Government uses sanctions judiciously, where it is in our national interest, and in concert with international partners where it is appropriate. Decisions to impose sanctions are made on a case-by-case basis.

Response to the recommendations

Recommendation 1

The Committee recommends that the Australian Government includes detailed reasoning for listing decisions in legislative instruments that impose autonomous sanctions.

Response: Noted

The Government notes this recommendation.

Each legislative instrument adding or removing a sanctions listing is already accompanied by a publicly available Explanatory Statement providing reasons for the Minister for Foreign Affairs' decision. The Minister and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade also provide information about listing decisions in media releases and announcements that accompany listings decisions.

The Government's decisions to impose sanctions are carefully considered on a case-by-case basis against the legal requirements of Australian sanctions laws, and in pursuit of Australia's national interest. The Minister, with the agreement of the Attorney-General, may impose thematic sanctions when, based on the information available to the Minister at the time, the Minister is satisfied that the thematic listings criteria are met.

Listed persons and entities can also seek information on the reasons for listing by the Minister. They also have a right to apply for a revocation or judicial review of a listing or a decision relating to a listing. Listed persons and entities are afforded procedural fairness through these processes.

The Government will review the information currently provided in relation to listing decisions, and consider whether there are other, appropriate options to enhance or increase the information provided.

Recommendation 2

The Committee recommends that the Australian Sanctions Office updates and maintains the Consolidated List to include detailed reasoning for each designation.

Response: Noted

The Government notes this recommendation.

The purpose of the Consolidated List is to provide the regulated community with sufficient information about listed persons and entities to satisfy their legal obligations under Australia's sanctions laws.

Throughout 2024, the Australian Government undertook extensive consultation on the Consolidated List with stakeholders across the regulated community. The feedback from consultation has informed work to improve the functionality of the Consolidated List, which was delivered in December 2025.

Listed persons and entities can seek information on the reasons for their listing by the Minister at any time.

Recommendation 3

The Committee recommends that the Minister for Foreign Affairs reports annually to the Parliament on all autonomous sanctions decisions taken during the previous 12 months.

Response: Agreed in principle

The Government agrees in principle to this recommendation.

The Australian Government is planning to commence the annual publication of a sanctions report, with the first such report in early 2026 on sanctions actions in 2025. This action is being undertaken to enhance transparency of the administration of sanctions and in line with regulator best practice. The report will not be tabled in Parliament.

Recommendation 4

The Committee recommends that the Australian Government amends Section 6A of the Autonomous Sanctions Regulations 2011 to:

include criteria for the thematic area of 'threats to international peace and security'

include criteria for the thematic area of 'serious violations of international humanitarian law', in conformity with the term's meaning under international law.

Response: Noted

The Government notes this recommendation.

Depending on the circumstances, it is possible for the existing thematic criteria to be applied to situations to which the proposed new criteria for 'international peace and security' and 'serious violations of international humanitarian law' would also be intended to apply.

The government will continue to keep its sanctions frameworks under review, including the thematic sanctions listing criteria, to consider whether they remain appropriate to address international situations of concern.

Recommendation 5

The Committee recommends that the Australian Government, in consultation with the humanitarian sector, amends the Autonomous Sanctions Act 2011 to provide a standing exemption from all sanctions measures for legitimate humanitarian assistance, consistent with the approach taken in United Nations Security Council Resolution 2664 (2022).

Response: Agreed in-principle

The Government agrees in-principle to this recommendation.

The Government keeps Australia's autonomous sanctions framework under regular review to ensure it remains effective. In 2023, the Department released an Issues Paper that raised the potential for a specific humanitarian exemption. The Department received numerous submissions in response to the Issues Paper, including from the humanitarian sector. The Government is considering the outcomes of this review and what reforms to Australia's sanctions framework may be necessary.

Australian entities may rely on the general humanitarian exemption under UNSCR 2664 to provide assistance in support of UN affiliated humanitarian operations to countries subject to UNSC sanctions. A sanctions permit may also authorise prohibited activities. The Department prioritises permit applications relating to humanitarian activities.

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Australian Government response to the Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade References Committee report:

Australia's sanctions regime

JUNE 2026

Introduction

The Australian Government welcomes the opportunity to respond to the report of the Senate Standing Committee on Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade (the Committee) on its inquiry into Australia's sanctions regime (the Report).

The Government is taking action to ensure Australia's sanctions regime is strong, effective, and responsive to situations of international concern.

As part of the 2024-25 Budget, the Government committed $26.4 million to significantly strengthen sanctions enforcement—including establishing a dedicated monitoring capability and enhancing compliance functions within the Australian Sanctions Office. This investment materially improves Australia's capacity to detect non-compliance and uphold the credibility of our sanctions regime.

As threats to international security and agreed rules, norms and standards have grown, so too has Australia's use of autonomous sanctions. Since Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, the number of listings under Australia's autonomous sanctions framework has increased substantially. Over the past 12 months, the Government has expanded sanctions listings to a range of individuals and entities for acts of global terrorism, human rights abuse and cybercrime in response to evolving threats. On 6 December 2025, the Government also established a world-first autonomous sanctions framework for Afghanistan, as part of our ongoing efforts to hold the Taliban to account. The framework enables Australia to directly impose its own sanctions and travel bans to increase pressure on the Taliban, targeting the oppression of the Afghan people, particularly women, girls, and minority groups, as well as actions that undermine the rule of law and good governance in Afghanistan.

Our sanctions listings and the legislative framework that supports them are subject to regular and rigorous review to optimise their effectiveness and integrity. The Government uses sanctions judiciously, where it is in our national interest, and in concert with international partners where it is appropriate. Decisions to impose sanctions are made on a case-by-case basis.

The Government thanks the Committee for its work in preparing the report, including considering the 45 submissions and evidence provided during the public hearing.

Response to the recommendations

Recommendation 1

The Committee recommends that the Australian Government consider its application of thematic sanctions and explore ways to further strengthen consistency where appropriate.

Response: Agreed

The Government agrees to this recommendation.

Consistent with longstanding Australian Government policy, the Government does not speculate on potential future sanctions measures.

Sanctions are just one of the tools available to the Government to respond to situations of international concern, and careful consideration must be given as to whether sanctions are the most appropriate and effective measure in each circumstance. For example, in the human rights context, other foreign policy measures such as bilateral representations, advocacy on human rights in multilateral or other forums, including the United Nations General Assembly and the Human Rights Council, development assistance and humanitarian support may be more effective at a particular time.

Recommendation 2

The Committee recommends that, in circumstances where foreign policy objectives allow, the Australian Government, while continuing to make its own judgments concerning the imposition of sanctions, prioritise the alignment of sanctions with allies to maximise effectiveness and place greater emphasis on imposing such sanctions promptly.

Response: Agreed

The Government agrees to this recommendation.

Consistent with longstanding Australian Government policy, the Government does not speculate on potential future sanctions measures.

A decision to impose sanctions is carefully considered on a case-by-case basis against the legal requirements of Australian sanctions laws, and in accordance with Australia's national interest. The Foreign Minister may impose sanctions when satisfied that the listing criteria are met, and after careful consideration that sanctions are the most appropriate action for Australia to respond to the situation of international concern.

The Government regularly engages with international partners when considering the imposition of autonomous sanctions, noting sanctions are often most effective when applied in concert with others. For example, in late 2023 and 2024 Australia joined partners in targeting Hamas financial networks and facilitators after the October 7 attacks; in 2024 Australia joined countries including the UK, Canada, New Zealand and the US in imposing targeted financial sanctions and travel bans on Israeli settlers and extremist groups linked to violence in the West Bank; a substantial proportion of our sanctions on Russian individuals and entities are coordinated with partners; and we coordinated with partners to enact sanctions following human rights abuses in Iran after the death of Mahsa Amini.

However there may be times when it is not possible or appropriate to impose the same sanction or at the same time as international partners. Legal frameworks, legal criteria and thresholds, national interests and the range of diplomatic measures available among countries may differ.

The Government also considers the impact of potential sanctions on Australia, and the Australian Sanctions Office within the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade engages other agencies on these considerations.

In taking a decision to impose sanctions, where appropriate the Government does, and will continue to, consider carefully actions taken by partner countries.

Recommendation 3

The Committee recommends that the Australian Government consider establishing a mechanism for engagement with civil society on Australia's sanctions regime.

Response: Agreed

The Government agrees to this recommendation.

The Australian Government engages regularly with civil society and other stakeholders through ad hoc, formal and informal outreach, and targeted engagement, in-person, virtually and by correspondence.

These activities are complemented by the Government's publication of both guidance and advisory notes, and responses to direct inquiries and submissions.

Recommendation 4

The Committee recommends that the Australian Government work with its global partners to increase focus on sanctions enforcement and close loopholes which allow Iran and Russia to evade the financial impact of Australian sanctions.

Response: Agreed in-principle

The Government agrees in-principle to this recommendation.

The Government is committed to strengthening monitoring and enforcement of Australia's sanctions framework. In the 2024-25 Budget the Government provided $26.4 million over four years from 2024-25 (and $6.6 million per year ongoing) towards this work. A key element of this is working across agencies, and with international partners to strengthen the impact and effectiveness of sanctions, and to identify and respond to sanctions breaches and evasion, including by Iran and Russia.

Amendments to the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act enacted in December 2024 and the new Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Rules 2025, will also reinforce sanctions implementation in Australia. Under the reforms, AUSTRAC-regulated businesses will have new obligations to prevent sanctions contraventions, namely to:

Recommendation 5

The Committee recommends that the Australian Government continue to impose sanctions on Iranian officials involved in serious violations or serious abuses of human rights, including wrongful detention.

Response: Agreed in-principle

The Government agrees in-principle to this recommendation.

The Albanese Government has taken stronger action against Iran than any previous Australian government. We bolstered our autonomous sanctions framework to enable us to target more Iranian individuals and entities involved in oppression inside Iran, including against women and girls.

Since the violent crackdown on protests following the death of Mahsa Amini in September 2022, the Government has taken unprecedented action to hold Iranian officials and entities to account, including imposing sanctions on more than 50 individuals and entities for their involvement in serious violations or serious abuses of human rights in Iran. This represents a substantial strengthening of Australia's response to Iran's human rights abuses under the autonomous sanctions regime.

Consistent with long-standing Australian Government policy, the Government does not speculate on potential future sanctions measures.

Recommendation 6

The Committee recommends that the Australian Government prioritise, in consultation with international partners and non-governmental Australian stakeholders, the development of methodologies to target and measure the effectiveness of Australia's sanctions regime.

Response: Agreed in-principle

The Government agrees in-principle to this recommendation.

The Government continues to engage with like-minded partners and the regulated community on the impact of sanctions, and ways to strengthen their effectiveness. Sanctions vary in their objectives, context and the expected timescale of their impact, which are important considerations in the development of methodologies to measure their effectiveness.

Recommendation 7

The Committee recommends that the Australian Government consider how to identify and locate all Russian and Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-associated assets in Australia which are currently subject to sanctions.

Response: Agreed in-principle

The Government agrees in-principle to this recommendation.

Under Australian sanctions laws it is an offence to use or deal with an asset, or allow or facilitate another person to use or deal with an asset, that is owned or controlled by a designated person or entity. That is, the assets must be 'frozen'. The Australian Sanctions Office provides guidance material in relation to the assets of sanctioned persons or entities and undertakes targeted outreach. In addition, the Australian Sanctions Office undertakes regular checks to identify assets held by significant financial institutions.

The Department continues to improve and expand its monitoring function to identify assets of designated persons and entities that are in Australia that are required to be 'frozen' under Australian sanctions laws, as well as its outreach function to assist the regulated community to identify and report these assets as required under Australian sanctions laws.

Recommendation 8

The Committee recommends that the Australian Government identify all Russian assets in Australia that are subject to sanctions, and consider what legislative and other changes are required to enable the transfer of these assets.

Response: Agreed in-principle

The Government agrees in-principle to this recommendation and refers to its response to Recommendation 7.

The Government keeps the autonomous sanctions framework under regular review to ensure it remains fit for purpose and serves the national interest. The Australian Sanctions Office has established an inter-agency working group to consider this issue further.

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Australian Government response to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security report:

Review of the Exposure Draft Legislation: Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism Bill 2026

MAY 2026

Introduction

The Australian Government thanks the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security for its review of the exposure draft of the Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism Bill 2026.

There is no place in Australia for hatred or discrimination of any kind, and the Government unequivocally condemns this behaviour. Everyone has a right to feel safe and be proud of who they are, regardless of their religious, ethnic or cultural background. This legislative package forms part of the Government's efforts to address the spread of hatred and extremism and is critical to the Government's response to the devastating terrorist attack at Bondi Beach on 14 December 2025.

The Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism (Criminal and Migration Laws) Bill and the Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism (Firearms and Customs Laws) Bill 2026 were introduced to the Parliament on 20 January 2026. Both Bills passed the Parliament on 20 January 2026.

These reforms send a clear message that hate and violence has no place in Australia. The Government thanks the Committee for its consideration and recommendations.

Recommendations

Recommendation 1: The Committee urges the Parliament to work together in a constructive and collaborative manner across all parties and crossbench members to ensure that the legislative response to antisemitism, hate and extremism is effective, proportionate and reflects a unified national commitment to community safety and social cohesion.

Response: The Australian Government supports this recommendation.

The Government's priority is to keep our community safe and united. The Government is committed to continuing to work with the Parliament in a constructive and collaborative manner to respond to antisemitism, hate and extremism.

Recommendation 2: The Committee understands the Government's intent in bringing forward one draft Bill to deal with all elements of its response to the Bondi attack.

Noting the Government's decision not to proceed with the racial vilification provisions at this time, the Committee makes no recommendation in relation to that aspect of the Exposure Draft legislation.

Consistent with the remaining elements of the Exposure Draft legislation, the Committee recommends that (1) the hate crimes and migration provisions, and (2) the firearms reforms, proceed.

Given the importance of the hate crime, migration and firearms provisions to addressing antisemitism, hate and extremism, the Committee recommends that these measures be passed.

Response: The Australian Government agrees to this recommendation.

The Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism (Criminal and Migration Laws) Act 2026 and Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism (Firearms and Customs Laws) Act 2026 were passed by the Parliament on 20 January 2026.

Recommendation 3: The Committee recommends that the Australian Government, in implementing the provisions contained in Schedule 4 of the Exposure Draft legislation, including negotiations with States and Territories around the national gun buyback, ensure:

Response: The Australian Government agrees-in-principle to the recommendation.

The Department of Home Affairs will provide clear guidance to importers and individuals impacted by changes to the Customs (Prohibited Imports) Regulations 1956 made by the Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism (Firearms and Customs Laws) Act 2026.

Legislation governing firearms use and possession is the responsibility of state and territory governments. However, the Australian Government will work closely with states and territories on communicating national reforms, if agreed, and support a national information campaign on the proposed National Gun Buyback Scheme.

Recommendation 4: The Committee recommends that the [relevant] Bill be amended to include a specific defence for individuals who hold a valid licence permitting them to manufacture, repair, maintain or modify firearms, ensuring that possession or access to firearms- or explosives-manufacture material is not criminalised where the material relates to conduct lawfully authorised under that licence.

Response: The Australian Government agrees to this recommendation.

The Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism (Firearms and Customs Laws) Act 2026 includes a specific defence, for the offences relating to firearms and explosives manufacture material, which provides that the offences do not apply to individuals who hold a valid licence that authorises them to manufacture, repair, maintain or modify firearms, firearm accessories, firearm parts, firearm magazines or explosives or other lethal devices (see subsection 474.45J(2)). This ensures that dealing with material that relates to conduct which is lawfully authorised under the licence is not criminalised.

Coalition additional recommendations

Recommendation: Coalition members recommend that the Government work constructively with the Coalition on a revised legislative package that is clearly drafted and operationally workable and directed to the practical objective of preventing extremist intimidation and violence and ensuring Jewish Australians can live, worship and gather in safety.

Response: The Australian Government notes this recommendation.

The Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism (Criminal and Migration Laws) Act 2026 and Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism (Firearms and Customs Laws) Act 2026 were passed by the Parliament on 20 January 2026.

Recommendation: Coalition members further recommend that any legislation enacted include a requirement for review by this Committee two years after commencement, to assess effectiveness, enforceability, unintended consequences, and whether further amendments are required.

Response: The Australian Government agrees-in-part to this recommendation.

The Combatting Antisemitism, Hate and Extremism (Criminal and Migration Laws) Act 2026 (the Act) includes a requirement for the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security to review the operation, effectiveness and implications of the amendments made by Parts 1 and 4, of Schedule 1, of that Act, as soon as practicable after the second anniversary of the Act's commencement.

The Act also includes a requirement for the Senate Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs to begin a review of Subdivision CA of Division 80 of Part 5.1 of the

Criminal Code Act 1995 as soon as practicable after the second anniversary of the Act's commencement.

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Australian Government response to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Public Works report:

Cocos (Keeling) Islands—West Island, Seawater Reverse Osmosis Plant Project and other works, 5/23

Australian Government response

The Australian Government's response (the department) to the Cocos (Keeling) Islands, West Island—Seawater Reverse Osmosis Plant and other works recommendations is set out in detail below.

Recommendation 1:

2.35 The Committee recommends that the House of Representatives resolve, pursuant to Section 18(7) of the Public Works Committee Act 1969, that it is expedient to carry out the following proposed works: Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts, Cocos (Keeling) Islands—West Island, Seawater Reverse Osmosis Plant Project.

The House of Representatives approved the public works on 10 May 2023 and the recommendation is resolved.

Recommendation 2:

3.48 For future projects that fall within the oversight of the Public Works Committee, the Committee recommends that the Australian Taxation Office conduct broader staff consultation during the design phase.

The ATO has a longstanding commitment to consulting with staff on workplace design and capital works projects. In response to the Committee's recommendation in 2023, the ATO has further strengthened this approach by commencing consultation earlier and embedding more structured and transparent engagement throughout both the design and delivery stages of property projects.

Since 2023, the ATO has introduced early-stage design discovery workshops as a core element of its consultation framework. These workshops are held at the outset of projects to test design assumptions and to identify work practices, functional needs and work health and safety requirements before concepts are finalised. This earlier engagement has enabled design solutions to better reflect how spaces are used in practice and to reduce the need for later design changes.

Consultation continues to be supported through site working groups (SWGs), comprising representatives from all affected business lines. SWGs provide structured input on business-specific requirements and local ways of working. Following the Committee's recommendation, the ATO has enhanced the role of SWG representatives, clarified their responsibilities and increased the visibility of the role to staff. This has improved the flow of information between project teams, business lines and staff, and supported more consistent communication of feedback and project updates.

In addition, the ATO has expanded opportunities for broader staff engagement through practical initiatives such as on-site display centres and visual mock-ups. These initiatives support staff understanding of proposed designs and provide accessible forums for feedback, strengthening confidence in both the design and delivery of property projects.

Recommendation 3:

3.50 The Committee recommends that the House of Representatives resolve, pursuant to Section 18(7) of the Public Works Committee Act 1969, that it is expedient to carry out the following proposed works: Australian Taxation Office—Australian Taxation Office Fit-out—Proposed Fit-out of Existing Leased Premises at 200 Collins Street, Hobart, Tasmania.

The House of Representatives approved the public works on 10 May 2023 and the recommendation is resolved.

Recommendation 4:

4.56 The Committee recommends that the House of Representatives resolve, pursuant to Section 18(7) of the Public Works Committee Act 1969, that it is expedient to carry out the following proposed works: Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade—Proposed Construction and Decommissioning of the Australian Pavilion at the World Expo 2025 Osaka, Kansai, Japan.

The House of Representatives approved the public works on 10 May 2023 and the recommendation is resolved.

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

In respect of the government response to the Senate Education and Employment Legislation Committee interim and final reports on quality of governance at Australian higher education providers, I move:

That the Senate take note of the document.

I'd like to thank my colleagues on the committee, as well as the committee secretariat, for a report that really goes deep into the crisis that universities are facing. The final report exposes the depth and breadth of failed leadership, the corporate rot and the consultant capture decaying our public universities. Arrogant executives indulge in obscene pay packets and big consultancies, feasting on public money, while the people who teach, who research, who support students and who hold the university together are overworked, underpaid and exploited.

On behalf of the Greens, I really do want to thank staff and students across universities who have shown immense courage and commitment, not just by providing evidence to this inquiry but also by refusing to accept the neoliberal corporate culture that pervades our universities. This corporate culture treats staff and students as mere cogs in the wheel of a profit-making university instead of the heart and soul of a public institution. Staff and students and their unions have spoken out in a hostile and intimidatory environment. This inquiry would not have existed without their activism, without their advocacy and without their solidarity. The Greens will continue to amplify their voices in our mission to rebuild universities which are based on equity, democracy and public good.

While the final report is a scathing indictment of the corporatisation of universities and the severity of the crisis at hand, and while the committee report presents very strong evidence on the complete failures of the neoliberal agenda, it really falls short of providing remedies that match the systemic overhaul needed to end the era of managerial bloat and unaccountable, opaque governance. The final report really shows us some horrendous examples of universities and what corporatisation has done to those universities. Two of the very glaring case studies come from ANU and the University of Technology Sydney. They show us how the corporate governance model in universities has utterly failed the public interest test as transparency and accountability are falling by the wayside. For example, the UTS management engaged in bureaucratic contortions to avoid disclosing information.

What is happening at these universities, sadly, is by no means an anomaly. It is a symptom of a rotten model that has spread across the university sector in this country. It is a model built on running universities as businesses where consultant capture and endless restructures have become the norm. KPMG, Nous and other big consultancies feast on public money while the people, as I said earlier, who really uphold and run the universities are run into the ground.

The failures of governance in universities do go hand-in-hand with decades of underfunding by governments, most viciously exemplified by the fee hikes and funding cuts of the job-ready graduates scheme, which have been widely condemned but still not reversed by the Labor government. We know that the Job-ready Graduates Package has increased fees to almost $56,000 for humanities. This is a lifetime of debt that is near impossible for students to pay off. Their whole life is shackled by the weight of this student debt.

We heard from a lot of people during this inquiry, students included. Ms Campbell, a fifth-year student at UTS and the President of the UTS Students' Association, gave this evidence:

At every level, students see how little voice we have in decisions that directly affect our education and how far university leadership has drifted from transparency, accountability and public purpose.

Mr Lee, Vice President of the Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations, reported:

… members who are student members on governing bodies have repeatedly talked to us about being treated as second-class members on their respective university councils.

He went on to note:

In some universities, the student members are the only ones who are not remunerated for their time. This is indicative of the levels of respect afforded to student members in the university senates.

This report should be a turning point for how universities operate and for how universities must see themselves not as job factories but as places of learning, of research and of teaching which build the minds of the next generation and which contribute to society as a public good. It is imperative that the government listens to the damning evidence provided in this inquiry, takes seriously the recommendations that are being made by staff and students, and acts with urgency to turn things around, because at the moment the recommendations in the report that the government has offered don't move the dial too much. It is as it always is with the Labor government—just tinkering around the edges. Universities don't need tinkering around the edges. Universities need to be fully publicly funded. Students need access to university which is free. Every single student deserves that and the wiping of debt. And let's get rid of the horrific, punitive, terrible, failed and flawed Job Ready Graduates package with urgency.