Universities Accord (Australian Tertiary Education Commission) Bill 2025

The majority voted against an amendment introduced by Berowra MP Julian Leeser (Liberal), which means it was unsuccessful.

Mr Leeser explained that:

the national tertiary education objective, as drafted, is not fit to proceed. Amending it should be a necessary but not sufficient consideration for legislating anything like an [Australian Tertiary Education Commission (ATEC)]. So this amendment changes it. It's a simple and straightforward amendment, and I'd like to think it's uncontroversial.

Amendment text

(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) develop a world-class tertiary education sector that drives excellence in teaching and learning; and

(b) deliver world-leading research and scholarship, particularly in strategic areas of national significance; and

(c) improve productivity by developing a highly skilled, adaptable and productive workforce; and

(d) establish close links between tertiary education providers, industry and business to strengthen student outcomes and support innovation across the economy; and

(e) deliver positive student experiences across the tertiary education sector; and

(f) promote competition and innovation across the tertiary education sector; and

(g) support Australian values, including equality of opportunity, the rule of law, and Western liberal democratic traditions; and

(h) drive efficiency across the sector to provide value for money for students and the Australian taxpayer; and

(i) reduce regulatory burdens on the tertiary education sector where practicable.