Coalition senators additional comments

Coalition senators are concerned about the last minute proposal by Government senators to extend to 11 October 2023 the reporting date of the committee's inquiry into the Higher Education Support Amendment (Response to the Australian Universities Accord Interim Report) Bill 2023 (Bill).

This reflects the unwieldy and irregular manner in which this inquiry has been conducted by this Government controlled committee, noting that initially Government senators proposed an unreasonably short time frame to complete this inquiry and opposed the holding of public hearings until this was overturned by Coalition senators in the Senate.

We also note with concern that responses to questions on notice from some witnesses, including the Department of Education which has primary responsibility for the Bill, have not been returned which inhibits the ability of the committee to do its work.These responses should be returned as soon as possible.

Notwithstanding, a reporting date of 11 October 2023, rather than 6 October 2023 as proposed, does not provide sufficient time to consider the committee’s report before the Bill is scheduled to be debated in the Senate.

More broadly, given the calls by the university sector to delay the provisions in the Bill concerning the 'support for students' policy, it is clear that the Minister for Education has not undertaken the requisite work required, including sector consultation, before introducing the Bill into the Parliament.This does not reflect well on the Government's capacity to manage its legislative agenda in the Education portfolio.

Senator the Hon Sarah HendersonSenator Slade Brockman

Shadow Minister for Education Senator for Western Australia

Senator for Victoria

27 September 2023