New Bill for University Watchdog Clears Lower House

Students sit on the lawn near the Faculty of Law building at The University of Sydney, in Sydney, Australia, on May 8, 2013. AAP Image/Paul MillerA bill to establish a new university watchdog has passed the House of Representatives to oversee the long-term reform of the challenged higher education sector.The Universities Accord (Australian Tertiary Education Commission) Bill 2025 passed the lower house on Feb. 10, but still needs Senate approval.Under the bill, the Australian Tertiary Education Commission (ATEC) will promote closer integration between higher education and vocational education and training (VET), and allocate funding under a new Managed Growth Funding system.The bill also enshrines a National Tertiary Education Objective, which ATEC would be required to consider when performing its functions.The minister will appoint three commissioners, including a First Nations commissioner. At least one commissioner will need experience in VET.ATEC will also produce an annual report on the state of the tertiary education system and provide advice on the Higher Education Standards Framework.“This is big structural reform that will help us build the sort of education system Australia needs now and into the future,” said federal Education Minister Jason Clare.The bill is aimed in part to deal with a swathe of issues in the sector like education quality for students, a heavy reliance on foreign students for revenue (creating additional pressures on short term housing), and ideology on campus.Sector Backs the BillIn November, when the bill was first introduced, Universities Australia CEO Luke Sheehy backed the bill.“A well-designed ATEC has the potential to deliver long-term stability for universities and the students and communities they serve,” Sheehy said.Universities Australia Chair Professor Carolyn Evans argued the Universities Accord panel recommended an apolitical, independent body that could provide expert advice to government on the sector’s long term needs, and not be subject to short-term political winds.