Universities Accord (National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-Based Violence) Bill 2025 and another

The majority voted against an amendment to the usual second reading motion, which is "that the bill be read a second time" (parliamentary jargon for agreeing with the main idea of the bill). This amendment was introduced by Tasmanian Senator Jonathon Duniam (Liberal).

Amendment text

At the end of the motion, add ", but the Senate urges the Government to establish an additional National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Anti-Semitism, which:

(a) makes it clear to all higher education students, staff and providers that everyone on a higher education campus has a right to be safe;

(b) imposes on universities a range of obligations concerning student and staff safety which is very important given the alarming increase in anti-Semitic incidents on university campuses since 7 October 2023; and

(c) ensures that higher education providers must comply with recommendations of the National Student Ombudsman concerning the National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Anti-Semitism".