Universities Accord (Australian Tertiary Education Commission) Bill 2025

The majority voted against amendments introduced by the Australian Greens party, which means they were unsuccessful. The amendments were on the subject of: access and participation, diversity and inclusion, student contributions, publication of advice and recommendations and the National Tertiary Education Objective.

Note that Queensland Senator Malcolm Roberts (One Nation) stated following this vote that he would like One Nation's vote to be recorded as in support of the amendments listed below as belonging to sheet 3674.

Amendment text

SHEET 3668 revised

(1) Clause 3, page 2 (after line 27), after paragraph (1)(f), insert:

(fa) to improve access to, and participation and success in, the higher education system for persons from culturally and racially marginalised communities, persons with diverse sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and sex characteristics and persons with disability;

SHEET 3669

(1) Clause 11, page 9 (line 9), after "socioeconomic background", insert ", persons from racially and culturally marginalised communities, persons with diverse sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and sex characteristics".

(2) Clause 14, page 11 (lines 1 and 2), after "socioeconomic background", insert ", persons from racially and culturally marginalised communities, persons with diverse sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and sex characteristics".

(3) Clause 41, page 27 (line 30), after "socioeconomic background", insert ", persons from racially and culturally marginalised communities, persons with diverse sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and sex characteristics".

(4) Clause 42, page 29 (line 29), after "socioeconomic background", insert ", persons from racially and culturally marginalised communities, persons with diverse sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, and sex characteristics".

SHEET 3671

(1) Clause 5, page 5 (after line 10), after the definition of Secretary, insert:

student contribution amount has the same meaning as in the Higher Education Support Act 2003.

(2) Clause 5, page 5 (after line 24), after the definition of Torres Strait Islander, insert:

unit of study has the same meaning as in the Higher Education Support Act 2003.

(3) Clause 11, page 9 (line 14), after "funding clusters", insert "and student contribution amounts for units of study".

SHEET 3674

(1) Clause 41, page 28 (lines 3 to 5), omit the note.

(2) Clause 41, page 28 (lines 19 to 21), omit the note.

(3) Clause 68, page 47 (lines 7 and 8), omit "requires the ATEC to obtain the Minister's agreement before publishing any of its advice or recommendations. It also".

SHEET 3710

(1) Clause 13, page 10 (lines 19 to 23), omit subclause (1), substitute:

(1) The National Tertiary Education Objective is the objective for tertiary education in Australia to:

(a) recognise the public-focused mission of tertiary education; and

(b) promote a strong, equitable and resilient democracy; and

(c) drive social development and environmental sustainability; and

(d) deliver solutions to the major challenges in society.

(1A) The National Tertiary Education Objective aims to recognise:

(a) the inherent value of a high quality public education system; and

(b) the importance of tertiary education in creating a strong, equitable and resilient society; and

(c) the significance of tertiary education in protecting and advancing the civil, political and social rights that underpin Australia's democracy; and

(d) the crucial role of tertiary education in developing knowledge and critical inquiry for the benefit of society.