Universities Accord (Australian Tertiary Education Commission) Bill 2025

The majority voted in favour of a motion "That the amendments be agreed to." Because the bill has already passed in this form in the Senate, this means that the bill will now become law.

What were the amendments?

Blaxland MP Jason Clare (Labor) explained that:

The amendments that we will now consider that were made in the Senate will allow the [Australian Tertiary Education Commission (ATEC)] to initiate its own advice to ministers. They'll strengthen the ATEC's role in providing advice on research and research training. They'll allow the minister to appoint at least one and up to three commissioners on a part-time basis, in addition to the chief commissioner and the First Nations commissioner. They recognise the public good of higher education to Australia and the importance of academic freedom in the objects of the bill. They require the ATEC to establish a committee to provide advice and recommendations to the minister in relation to the Higher Education Standards Framework and ensure that the committee have appropriate expertise in higher education.

What does this bill do?

The bill was introduced alongside the Universities Accord (Australian Tertiary Education Commission) (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2025. According to the bills digest, which is a document prepared by the parliamentary library:

The Universities Accord (Australian Tertiary Education Commission) Bill 2025 (the Bill) provides for the establishment of the Australian Tertiary Education Commission (ATEC) to provide stewardship of the higher education system.

The Bill enshrines a National Tertiary Education Objective (NTEO), to which ATEC must have regard in performing its functions.

The Universities Accord (Australian Tertiary Education Commission) (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2025 (the C&T Bill) amends related legislation to implement the Bill, including transferring responsibilities for the Higher Education Standards Framework to Australian Tertiary Education Commission (ATEC), and enabling information sharing between the Department of Education and ATEC.

*Establishing ATEC was a recommendation of the Australian Universities Accord, although not all components of the recommendations are included in the Bill.

The Minister would appoint three commissioners, including a First Nations Commissioner. At least one must have experience with vocational education and training (VET). ATEC will be assisted by the Department of Education.*

As well as the NTEO, and specific criteria in the Bill, ATEC must have regard to the Minister’s short-term and long-term strategic priorities when performing functions or exercising powers.

ATEC is to provide advice and recommendations on a number of prescribed areas and/or upon request by the Minister. It would also provide:

• an annual report on the state of the tertiary education system

• advice and recommendations on the Higher Education Standards Framework.

ATEC would establish and monitor performance through mission based compacts with Table A and B providers, which will outline how the provider’s purpose, values and goals align with national, state and local priorities, planning and strategy.