The bill establishes the Australian Tertiary Education Commission (ATEC) as an independent steward of the higher education system, enshrines a National Tertiary Education Objective, and creates mission-based compacts with universities to align institutional goals with national priorities.
The Universities Accord (Australian Tertiary Education Commission) Bill 2025 creates the Universities Accord Act 2025, establishing the ATEC as a statutory body led by a Chief Commissioner, a First Nations Commissioner and an additional Commissioner, each appointed for up to five years. The ATEC is charged with negotiating and monitoring mission-based compacts with Table A and B higher education providers, advising Commonwealth and State/Territory ministers on policy, equity and future workforce needs, and recommending updates to the Higher Education Standards Framework under the TEQSA Act. The bill enshrines a National Tertiary Education Objective to promote democracy, economic and social development and environmental sustainability, and mandates equity-focused advice and reporting on access and outcomes for First Nations students, those with disability, low-socioeconomic and regional cohorts.
The companion Universities Accord (Australian Tertiary Education Commission) (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2025 amends the Higher Education Support Act 2003 and the TEQSA Act 2011 to transfer functions to the ATEC, enable data and information sharing subject to privacy safeguards, maintain continuity of existing compacts, and empower the Minister to make transitional rules. The ATEC must publish biennial strategic priority statements, annual State of the Tertiary Education System reports, and undergo independent reviews at two and five years.
The bill establishes an independent Australian Tertiary Education Commission (ATEC) to provide transparent, evidence-based stewardship of the higher education system. By setting a clear National Tertiary Education Objective and negotiating mission-based compacts, the ATEC aligns institutions with national priorities while respecting each provider’s distinctive mission and preserving academic freedom.
With three expert Commissioners, including a dedicated First Nations Commissioner and advisory mechanisms, the ATEC will embed equity for under-represented cohorts and improve system-wide access, participation, and outcomes. Mandatory reporting, biennial strategic priority statements and independent reviews ensure accountability, continuous improvement, and public transparency. Embedding an independent steward addresses systemic gaps in planning and coordination, promoting innovation, quality teaching, and research that serve Australia’s social, economic, and democratic development [Judgment].
While an independent steward may address planning gaps, the functions proposed could largely be absorbed by existing bodies such as the Department of Education, Jobs and Skills Australia, or TEQSA. Creating a new commission risks administrative duplication, increased costs and complexity without clear evidence that current arrangements cannot be reformed [Judgment].
The bill also centralises decision-making through mission-based compacts and Commissioner appointments, which may reduce institutional autonomy and flexibility, and introduce potential political influence into higher education governance. Expanding regulatory oversight may divert resources from teaching and research, while transitional arrangements create uncertainty for providers during the shift to ATEC oversight.
2025-11-26
House of Representatives
Before House of Representatives
Unspecified
Education
Education, Democratic Institutions, Indigenous