Universities Accord (Opening the Doors of Opportunity) Bill 2026

Bill Timeline: This vote happens during the main debate on the bill's core principles. A second reading amendment (often called a 'reasoned amendment' in the House of Representatives) does not change the text of the proposed law. It amends the motion instead, and can be used to record an opinion about the bill or about the government's handling of the policy, to reverse the motion so the bill is defeated at this point, to refer the bill to a committee, or to delay further consideration of it.

At 1:31 PM, a small majority voted against a second reading amendment introduced by Senator Tyron Whitten (Pauline Hanson's One Nation Party) to the Universities Accord (Opening the Doors of Opportunity) Bill 2026, which means it was unsuccessful. The text of the bill is unchanged either way.

Nobody voted against their party on this occasion.

About the Bill

No Bill Digest found.

About the Amendment

No explanatory claims recorded.

Motion Introduction

I move the second reading amendment on sheet 4100:

Amendment Text

Senator Tyron Whitten moved the following amendment:

At the end of the motion, add ", but the Senate:

(a) notes:

(i) the additional cost burden on rural and regional students going to university and the need for additional funding to ensure that they have the same opportunities for higher education as students in metropolitan areas,

(ii) that additional funding and payments should be provided based on need and not on immutable characteristics such as race or gender,

(iii) that funding should be provided directly to students to address their additional costs, not to the universities, many of which already suffer from bloated administrations,

(iv) that the centralisation of university placements in the hands of the bureaucrats of the Australian Tertiary Education Commission is anti-competitive, will result in a lower standard of education and will create an environment that promotes political favours and lobbying to be awarded more favourable placements, and

(v) that this bill continues the Labor Government's aggressive expansion of ministerial powers; and

(b) calls on the Government to:

(i) provide additional, needs-based funding directly to students to address their own education needs, and

(ii) stop centralising control of Australian institutions in the hands of ministers and government bureaucrats".

Question Put

At 1:27 PM, Senator Sue Lines, in the chair, put the following question:

The question is that the second reading amendment moved by Senator Whitten on sheet 4100 be agreed to.