"It is through education that we uplift individuals, families and communities. It is through education that we unlock the potential of every Australian and provide them with the tools for their future. It is through education that we will solve the problems of the future. Education should never be a barrier but, rather, a pathway to greater opportunities."

Address to the House of Representatives, Bills - Higher Education Support Amendment (Response to the Australian Universities Accord Interim Report) Bill 2023

Monday 4 September 2023

I commend the speech just made by the member for Jagajaga. I also rise today to speak on the Higher Education Support Amendment (Response to the Australian Universities Accord Interim Report) Bill 2023 and to give my full support to it. I'm proud to be a member of a government and a member of a party which places education at the core of our policy efforts. The Labor Party has always understood the importance of training and skills for all Australians. That is why, through this bill, we are implementing the recommendations of the Australian Universities Accord interim report. I would like to extend my thanks to the authors of the report, especially Professor Mary O'Kane AC, who has been successful in leading the largest review of tertiary education in 15 years. I look forward to the release of the full and final report.

The interim report, which forms the basis of this bill, makes a number of recommendations for improving Australia's higher education sector. They are that we create more university study hubs, particularly in regional areas; that we scrap the 50 per cent pass rule and require better reporting on how students are progressing; that we extend the demand driven funding currently provided to Indigenous students from regional and remote areas to cover all Indigenous students; that we provide funding certainty during the accord process, extending the Higher Education Support Continuity Guarantee into 2024 and 2025; and that we work with state and territory governments through National Cabinet to improve university governance.

This is all part of our work to undo the higher education policy failures of the former government, and it is essential to put education in Australia back on the right track. The shadows of past policies loom large, reminding us of missed opportunities and unfulfilled policies. It's a shame that the former government couldn't or wouldn't recognise the importance of higher education for the benefit of our country. The former government revealed themselves, time and time again, to be against giving all Australians their fair go in higher education. By making degrees both more expensive and more precarious, they denied young Australians their turn to have a fair go. By further marginalising already marginalised groups, they did nothing but increase inequality in our country.

I'd be remiss not to mention that many of those sitting in this parliament received their higher education for free, thanks to Labor policy. This bill is a reminder to all that we must reflect on the true purpose of higher education in our lives. It is through education that we uplift individuals, families and communities. It is through education that we unlock the potential of every Australian and provide them with the tools for their future. It is through education that we will solve the problems of the future. Education should never be a barrier but, rather, a pathway to greater opportunities.

That's why it's so important we pass the Higher Education Support Amendment (Response to the Australian Universities Accord Interim Report) Bill. We envisage a university sector that fosters a culture of compassion and one that is supportive to students. Education is not a solitary endeavour. It's a collaborative journey, where institutions, educators and policymakers share the responsibility for nurturing the minds of the future.

Here in the ACT, tertiary education has been a cornerstone of our contribution to the nation. We're not just the home of the parliament and the Public Service, but home to Australia's only national university. Established in 1946, the Australian National University is the only university to have been created by the Parliament of Australia. It represents a long-term vision that Labor had for Australia. We simply could not have achieved our postwar prosperity without the skills that our National University was able to provide us with. Our nation's best and brightest have all, at some point, had an association with the Australian National University. For high-achieving school students across the country and the world, the ANU has been the light at the end of the tunnel—the reason they've pushed themselves. It's been the goal that has driven them. Our country would not have the knowledge, skills and curiosity we have today without the Australian National University. Many in this chamber are, and many in previous parliaments have been, proud alumni of the ANU, myself included.

But just down the road from the ANU is the University of Canberra—which is really the better one, according to my staff. It sits at No. 17 in international rankings for young universities. It was, this year, named in the top five for reducing inequalities in the world, and it produces some of the best teachers in the country—not bad for a university than just recently celebrated 30 years.

These universities, along with the Australian Catholic University and the University of New South Wales, are contributors to local, national and international skills and knowledge. However, they are all located on the north side.

In my electorate of Bean, there are no undergraduate university campuses. MacKillop College hosts postgraduate teaching classes. The Canberra Institute of Technology has campuses on the south side. In fact, my electorate office is in the same building as the Tuggeranong CIT campus. If you are a school-leaver or are looking at furthering your qualifications and you live south of the parliament, your only option is to travel north. For some, this is no problem, if they own a car and can afford the fuel and parking costs. But, if you are reliant on public transport and a schedule that doesn't necessarily complement your class timetable, or rely on active travel or sharing a car, this is a major barrier. That's why I am particularly interested in seeing the potential that will come from this bill's provisions to expand local access through the establishment of regional university centres and to establish a similar concept for suburban metropolitan locations.

I'm not arguing for a joint UC, ANU, ACU or UNSW campus in Tuggeranong, right now—although I would not oppose that if it did come. But if this is a barrier in Canberra, I can only imagine that, in our larger cities or rural communities, this is magnified, at times, tenfold. Rural university centres and their suburban or metropolitan equivalents will go far in reducing those entry barriers.

I'd like to give a quick shout-out to all those students in the ACT that will be doing their AST exams this week. I wish them the best as they deal with the stress that occurs on their pathway to, hopefully, getting better access to universities as well.

[Speech interrupted for Standing Orders]

I congratulate the member for Fadden on his first speech and wish him well in this place. There's a great opportunity for all members in this place to support important legislation, such as the Higher Education Support Amendment (Response to the Australian Universities Accord Interim Report) Bill 2023. This will end the 50 per cent pass rule that was introduced by the previous government as part of the Job-ready Graduates Package. Rather than supporting students who are struggling with the demands of academic life and getting them ready for life after university, this rule was intended to dissuade struggling students from continuing their studies. The statistics speak for themselves. Since the 50 per cent pass rule was implemented, more than 13,000 students at 27 universities have been affected. According to research from the Department of Education, many of these students come from a disadvantaged background. In the Albanese Labor government's vision of education, students who are struggling and/or are from disadvantaged backgrounds should be supported to complete their studies rather than be penalised for struggling.

On the passing of this bill, universities will be required to demonstrate how they will identify students who are struggling and how they will connect those students with the support services to help them. Universities will be required to provide sufficient, non-academic supports for students, such as financial assistance and mental health supports.

This is also why we are implementing the third recommendation of the report. As recommended by Professor O'Kane and her team, this government must extend demand-driven funding currently provided to Indigenous students from regional and remote areas to cover all Indigenous students to close the education gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians. We cannot ignore the historical and systemic challenges that have perpetuated the gap, hindering the access and opportunities for Indigenous students to receive quality education. By taking action in line with the recommendation, we are demonstrate a commitment to rectify past injustices and build a foundation of empowerment for Indigenous Australians through education. This measure directly supports efforts towards achieving Closing the Gap outcome 6, to increase the proportion of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people who've completed a tertiary qualification to 70 per cent by 2031. Universities Australia, the peak body representing Australia's universities, has said that the 50 per cent fail rate measure was unnecessarily punitive on students and that universities have long called for uncapped places for all Indigenous students and the removal of barriers to a university education for students from underrepresented backgrounds.

This measure builds on our government's election commitment to deliver up to 20,000 Commonwealth supported places and fee-free TAFE. Australian universities also contribute to economic activity and jobs in our country. Education added more than $29 billion to the economy in 2022. This is a tangible demonstration of the relationship between education and economic development. The importance of our universities transcends their immediate academic function. They are dynamic engines of progress, shaping the next generation of skilled professionals who address the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. In acknowledging the existing skills crisis in Australia, we must recognise that the solution lies within a robust and resilient education system. The demand for skilled professionals, whether they be nurses, doctors, engineers, scientists or in other vital roles, cannot be met without a strong and capable education foundation.

From the earliest stages of primary school to the halls of higher education, Australian students deserve nothing less than the best-quality education that not only imparts knowledge but also cultivates critical thinking, creativity and adaptability. Our education system should be a nurturing ground for future leaders, innovators and problem-solvers. This is something that we have focused on and will continue to strive to achieve. The Labor Party's dedication to education reflects our collective understanding that an empowered, educated population is the cornerstone of a resilient democracy. In our pursuit of progress, let's also remember that education equips individuals with more than just knowledge. It empowers them to be empowered, engaged citizens who contribute positively to society. Education is a policy space where we have always demonstrated our dedication to creating fairer and more equitable societies where every individual can reach their potential. It has been Labor that has led this country in advancing higher education, and no doubt it will be Labor that continues to lead this country in ensuring that our nation has a higher education system that encourages Australians, no matter their socioeconomic status, to advance their education.

I would like to acknowledge the hard work and dedication of our Minister for Education, the Hon. Jason Clare, for bringing this bill before the House. The Albanese Labor government understands that if you want to upskill, it's in the national interest for the government to do what it can to facilitate this. But this is just the beginning. As we look to the future, we must continue to work together, united in our purpose, to build a society where every Australian has a chance to unlock their potential and fulfil their aspirations. All members of this parliament should be able to recognise the important place of higher education and therefore the importance of this bill. I commend this nation-shaping legislation to the House.