This bill became law on Dec 5th, 2024.
Education & skills
Universities must direct at least 40% of student services and amenities fees to student-run organisations, although some providers can get a temporary transition period.
The Universities AccordThe major review and reform blueprint that this bill says it is implementing in stages. exposed unfair HELPThe student loan system covered by this bill, where debt grows each year through indexation and can now receive a backdated credit. indexation, placement costs, weak student control over SSAFA fee universities collect from students, with the bill requiring at least 40 per cent of that money to go to student-led organisations. spending, and access gaps for under-represented students. This bill caps student-loan indexation, funds paid placements and fee-free pathway courses, and requires universities to direct 40% of SSAFA fee universities collect from students, with the bill requiring at least 40 per cent of that money to go to student-led organisations. money to student-led organisations.
Before this bill, HELPThe student loan system covered by this bill, where debt grows each year through indexation and can now receive a backdated credit. debts were indexed each 1 June using CPIThe inflation measure used on this page to work out how much student debt would have risen under the old rules. alone, students on compulsory teaching, nursing, midwifery and social work placements had no Commonwealth prac paymentA new federal payment for eligible students on compulsory placements in courses like teaching, nursing, midwifery and social work., universities controlled most SSAFA fee universities collect from students, with the bill requiring at least 40 per cent of that money to go to student-led organisations. spending, and federal law still had to be updated for fee-free entry pathways and the Adelaide UniversityThe new university created through the merger of the University of South Australia and the University of Adelaide, which the bill updates in federal law. merger. Introduced in August 2024, the bill responded by capping HELPThe student loan system covered by this bill, where debt grows each year through indexation and can now receive a backdated credit. indexation at the lower of inflation or wages, creating paid placements and a funded Uni Ready category, requiring 40% of SSAFA fee universities collect from students, with the bill requiring at least 40 per cent of that money to go to student-led organisations. revenue to go to student-led organisations, and after Royal AssentThe point when the bill became an Act and its measures could start taking legal effect. on 5 December 2024 it enabled backdated HELPThe student loan system covered by this bill, where debt grows each year through indexation and can now receive a backdated credit. credits from 1 June 2023 while setting Adelaide merger changes to commence by proclamation or by 31 March 2026.
The main criticism was that the bill gave only partial relief, cutting student debt indexation and funding some placements without fixing the larger affordability and unpaid-placement problems facing students. That case was pressed most strongly by the Greens, while the Coalition and several crossbench MPs broadly let the bill proceed but raised unanswered detail, transparency and scope concerns.
Hon Jason Clare MP introduced this bill. It passed on the voices.
Did it become law?
Yes
Became law 05 Dec 2024
Final passage
Passed without a counted vote
14 recorded amendment or procedural votes were found, but no counted vote on the bill itself was recorded.
Passage speed
112 days
From introduction to the latest recorded parliamentary step
Meaning
Universities must direct at least 40% of student services and amenities fees to student-run organisations, although some providers can get a temporary transition period.
Student loan debts like HELPThe student loan system covered by this bill, where debt grows each year through indexation and can now receive a backdated credit. are now indexed by whichever rises less, inflation or wages, and eligible people get a backdated credit from 1 June 2023.
Fee-free pathway courses into university are renamed FEE-FREE Uni Ready coursesThe renamed pathway courses that help students prepare for university and are given their own Commonwealth funding category. and get their own Commonwealth funding category to expand access.
The Commonwealth can now fund universities to pay eligible domestic students in teaching, nursing, midwifery and social work while they complete required placements.
Federal higher education law is updated for the Adelaide UniversityThe new university created through the merger of the University of South Australia and the University of Adelaide, which the bill updates in federal law. merger, shifting both existing universities' status, students, grants and obligations into the new institution.
in Schedule 2 to the Bill, require higher education providers to allocate a minimum of 40 per cent of their SSAF revenue to student-led organisations and also provide for transition arrangements to be agreed by the Secretary of the Department of Education (or their delegate) for up to three years for Table A providers and up to five years for non-Table A providers;Universities Accord (Student Support and Other Measures) explanatory memorandum
Making the HELP system fairer by improving the way HELP indexation is calculated, which will impact more than 3 million Australians, by capping the HELP indexation rate to be the lower of either the Consumer Price Index (CPI) or the Wage Price Index (WPI) and providing an indexation credit to people’s HELP accounts to ensure the new HELP indexation cap has effect from 1 June 2023. This will ensure that outstanding loans never grow faster than average wages.Universities Accord (Student Support and Other Measures) explanatory memorandum
This Schedule amends HESA to rename ‘enabling courses’ for Commonwealth supported students to ‘FEE-FREE Uni Ready courses’, and establish a new dedicated Commonwealth Grant Scheme funding cluster for those courses.Universities Accord (Student Support and Other Measures) explanatory memorandum
The new table item is intended to be used to provide a new grant to higher education providers, for those providers to provide payments to eligible domestic students who are undertaking mandatory placements in identified priority areas (currently teaching, nursing and midwifery, and social work) as part of their course of study (the CPP grant) to meet entry-to-practice professional accreditation requirements.Universities Accord (Student Support and Other Measures) explanatory memorandum
Items 1 to 3 amend the table in subsection 16-15(1) to list Adelaide University as a Table A provider, and to remove the University of Adelaide and the University of South Australia from being listed as Table A providers. This reflects the merger of the University of Adelaide and the University of South Australia to become Adelaide University.Universities Accord (Student Support and Other Measures) explanatory memorandum
Context
Before this bill, HELPThe student loan system covered by this bill, where debt grows each year through indexation and can now receive a backdated credit. debts were indexed each 1 June using CPIThe inflation measure used on this page to work out how much student debt would have risen under the old rules. alone, students on compulsory teaching, nursing, midwifery and social work placements had no Commonwealth prac paymentA new federal payment for eligible students on compulsory placements in courses like teaching, nursing, midwifery and social work., universities controlled most SSAFA fee universities collect from students, with the bill requiring at least 40 per cent of that money to go to student-led organisations. spending, and federal law still had to be updated for fee-free entry pathways and the Adelaide UniversityThe new university created through the merger of the University of South Australia and the University of Adelaide, which the bill updates in federal law. merger. Introduced in August 2024, the bill responded by capping HELPThe student loan system covered by this bill, where debt grows each year through indexation and can now receive a backdated credit. indexation at the lower of inflation or wages, creating paid placements and a funded Uni Ready category, requiring 40% of SSAFA fee universities collect from students, with the bill requiring at least 40 per cent of that money to go to student-led organisations. revenue to go to student-led organisations, and after Royal AssentThe point when the bill became an Act and its measures could start taking legal effect. on 5 December 2024 it enabled backdated HELPThe student loan system covered by this bill, where debt grows each year through indexation and can now receive a backdated credit. credits from 1 June 2023 while setting Adelaide merger changes to commence by proclamation or by 31 March 2026.
HELPThe student loan system covered by this bill, where debt grows each year through indexation and can now receive a backdated credit. debts kept being indexed under the old CPIThe inflation measure used on this page to work out how much student debt would have risen under the old rules.-only rule
The Act later made its new lower-of-CPIThe inflation measure used on this page to work out how much student debt would have risen under the old rules.-or-wages formula apply back to this indexation date so eligible borrowers would receive a credit for excess indexation.
Universities Accord (Student Support and Other Measures) explanatory memorandum ↗Government introduces a bill to cut student debt growth and add student support
The bill was presented with measures covering HELPThe student loan system covered by this bill, where debt grows each year through indexation and can now receive a backdated credit. indexation, paid placements, fee-free Uni Ready coursesThe renamed pathway courses that help students prepare for university and are given their own Commonwealth funding category., student control of part of SSAFA fee universities collect from students, with the bill requiring at least 40 per cent of that money to go to student-led organisations. revenue and Adelaide UniversityThe new university created through the merger of the University of South Australia and the University of Adelaide, which the bill updates in federal law. transition arrangements.
Parliamentary timeline ↗Parliament passes the bill
Both houses agreed to the same package, clearing the way for backdated HELPThe student loan system covered by this bill, where debt grows each year through indexation and can now receive a backdated credit. relief and the new student support and university transition measures to become law.
Parliamentary timeline ↗Royal AssentThe point when the bill became an Act and its measures could start taking legal effect. makes the package law
The bill became an Act, allowing the Commonwealth to implement the HELPThe student loan system covered by this bill, where debt grows each year through indexation and can now receive a backdated credit. credit changes, new placement payments, Uni Ready funding and SSAFA fee universities collect from students, with the bill requiring at least 40 per cent of that money to go to student-led organisations. rules.
Parliamentary timeline ↗Adelaide UniversityThe new university created through the merger of the University of South Australia and the University of Adelaide, which the bill updates in federal law. transition changes must start by this date if not proclaimed earlier
The merger provisions were given a proclamation-based start with 31 March 2026 as the latest commencement date to align Commonwealth higher education law with the new university.
Universities Accord (Student Support and Other Measures) explanatory memorandum ↗Legislative route
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Introduced and read a first time
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Second reading moved
Referred to Committee (15/08/2024): Senate Education and Employment Legislation Committee; Committee report (03/10/2024)
Referred to committee
APH bill page notesThe bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
Second reading agreed to
The chamber considered amendments before the bill moved to the next stage.
Consideration in detail debate
The chamber considered the bill in detail and dealt with amendments before the next stage.
Consideration in detail debate
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Third reading agreed to
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Introduced and read a first time
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Second reading moved
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
Second reading agreed to
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Third reading agreed to
Both houses passed the bill in the same form, completing parliamentary passage.
Finally passed both Houses
The Governor-General gave Royal AssentThe point when the bill became an Act and its measures could start taking legal effect., turning the bill into an Act.
Key criticism
The main criticism was that the bill gave only partial relief, cutting student debt indexation and funding some placements without fixing the larger affordability and unpaid-placement problems facing students. That case was pressed most strongly by the Greens, while the Coalition and several crossbench MPs broadly let the bill proceed but raised unanswered detail, transparency and scope concerns.
Criticism was real but often conditional, with many speakers wanting the measures expanded rather than blocked.
Relief seen as too limited
Critics argued the bill's debt changes and placement payments were too modest to solve the underlying problem of expensive university study and students struggling through unpaid compulsory placements. They said a bigger response was needed, including broader public funding, free education or much wider placement support.
Too many unanswered implementation details
The opposition said the bill left key operational questions unresolved, especially around how student debt credits would work, how Commonwealth prac payments would be administered, and what transparency arrangements would apply. It pushed for more scrutiny and sought to delay commencement of prac payments until draft eligibility guidelines were shown to the Senate.
Coverage gaps for some students and courses
Several crossbench MPs argued the bill was too narrow because it did not adequately helpThe student loan system covered by this bill, where debt grows each year through indexation and can now receive a backdated credit. allied health, regional and other students who still face high costs or weaker support settings. They wanted broader placement coverage, better HELPThe student loan system covered by this bill, where debt grows each year through indexation and can now receive a backdated credit. rules and wider reform of the Job-ready GraduatesThe earlier higher education funding package that critics say still leaves some student contribution rates and course settings too high. system.
Student fee money could be used for politics
The bill's requirement that at least 40% of student services and amenities fees go to student-run organisations drew concern that money collected from students could be spent on student union elections, protest activity or purposes beyond direct welfare services. Opposition amendments tried to confine that spending but were defeated.
Votes
The bill passed both chambers on the voices. The counted divisions below were about amendments or procedure, not final passage.
House agreed to the bill's third reading on the voices, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes for final passage in that chamber.
Passed on the voices
In a voice vote, members call out Aye or No and the presiding officer judges which side has it. Individual names are only recorded if a formal division is called.
Senate agreed to the bill's third reading on the voices, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes for final passage in that chamber.
Passed on the voices
In a voice vote, members call out Aye or No and the presiding officer judges which side has it. Individual names are only recorded if a formal division is called.
Amendments grouped by chamber. These cards include amendment outcomes recorded without a counted division.
House
Defeated 5 to 56. Support came from Greens. Opposition came from Labor and Nationals. Minor-party and independent votes were split.
The House rejected the proposed second-reading statement, so the bill proceeded without that call for later HELPThe student loan system covered by this bill, where debt grows each year through indexation and can now receive a backdated credit. indexation timing.
Defeated 47 to 87. Support came from Liberal Party and Nationals. Opposition came from Labor, Greens, Centre Alliance, and minor parties and independents. Minor-party and independent votes were split.
The House rejected the proposed statement, so the bill was read a second time without that broader call for debt relief and fee-free study.
Defeated 12 to 68. Support came from Greens and minor parties and independents. Opposition came from Labor and Nationals. Minor-party and independent votes were split.
The House defeated the package, so the bill kept the earlier HELPThe student loan system covered by this bill, where debt grows each year through indexation and can now receive a backdated credit. timing and the higher contribution settings in the amended schedule.
This amendment would change the bill so the Society and Culture funding cluster keeps the pre-Job-ready GraduatesThe earlier higher education funding package that critics say still leaves some student contribution rates and course settings too high. student contribution amount.
This amendment would change the bill so the Society and Culture funding cluster keeps the pre-Job-ready GraduatesThe earlier higher education funding package that critics say still leaves some student contribution rates and course settings too high. student contribution amount.
Passed on the voices
The chamber agreed to this amendment without a counted vote — the presiding officer judged the ayes louder than the noes, and no member called for a division.
Senate
Defeated 29 to 33. Support came from Liberal Party, Nationals, and minor parties and independents. Opposition came from Labor and Greens. Minor-party and independent votes were split.
The Senate defeated the amendment, so the bill continued without the opposition's second-reading criticism being adopted.
Defeated 13 to 33. Support came from Greens and Australia's Voice. Opposition came from Labor, Liberal Party, Nationals, and minor parties and independents. Minor-party and independent votes were split.
The Senate defeated the amendment, so the bill was not broadened to include the Greens' full call for free higher education and paid placements.
Defeated 23 to 41. Support came from Labor. Opposition came from Liberal Party, Greens, Nationals, and Australia's Voice. Minor-party and independent votes were split.
The Senate defeated the referral amendment, so no extra post-passage inquiry on the Greens' HELPThe student loan system covered by this bill, where debt grows each year through indexation and can now receive a backdated credit. proposals was ordered.
Defeated 13 to 28. Support came from Greens and Australia's Voice. Opposition came from Labor, Liberal Party, Nationals, UAP, and minor parties and independents. Minor-party and independent votes were split.
The committee rejected the package, so HELPThe student loan system covered by this bill, where debt grows each year through indexation and can now receive a backdated credit. indexation stayed as drafted in the bill rather than being abolished outright.
Passed 31 to 26. Support came from Labor, Greens, Australia's Voice, and minor parties and independents. Opposition came from Liberal Party, Nationals, One Nation, and UAP. Minor-party and independent votes were split.
The committee agreed to keep schedule 2 as printed, so the SSAFA fee universities collect from students, with the bill requiring at least 40 per cent of that money to go to student-led organisations. reforms remained in the bill.
Defeated 12 to 31. Support came from Greens and Australia's Voice. Opposition came from Labor, Liberal Party, One Nation, Nationals, and minor parties and independents.
The committee rejected the proposal, so the bill did not include a blanket 20 per cent debt reduction.
Defeated 13 to 28. Support came from Greens and Australia's Voice. Opposition came from Labor, Liberal Party, One Nation, UAP, and minor parties and independents. Minor-party and independent votes were split.
The committee rejected the requests, so the bill's SSAFA fee universities collect from students, with the bill requiring at least 40 per cent of that money to go to student-led organisations. provisions were not narrowed to exclude those student-organisation activities.
Defeated 24 to 29. Support came from Liberal Party, Nationals, One Nation, UAP, and minor parties and independents. Opposition came from Labor, Greens, Australia's Voice, and minor parties and independents.
The committee defeated the amendment package, so the bill kept the broader SSAFA fee universities collect from students, with the bill requiring at least 40 per cent of that money to go to student-led organisations. allocation rules.
Defeated 15 to 19. Support came from Greens, Australia's Voice, and minor parties and independents. Opposition came from Labor, Liberal Party, and UAP. Minor-party and independent votes were split.
The committee rejected the package, so those broader HELPThe student loan system covered by this bill, where debt grows each year through indexation and can now receive a backdated credit. and placement reforms were not inserted into the bill.
Defeated 27 to 29. Support came from Liberal Party, Nationals, Australia's Voice, and One Nation. Opposition came from Labor and Greens. Minor-party and independent votes were split.
The committee defeated the amendment, so the bill's prac payment commencement was not delayed pending tabling of guidelines.
Defeated 13 to 25. Support came from Greens and Australia's Voice. Opposition came from Labor, Liberal Party, Nationals, One Nation, and minor parties and independents. Minor-party and independent votes were split.
The Senate rejected the report amendment, so the bill was adopted without that additional call for HELPThe student loan system covered by this bill, where debt grows each year through indexation and can now receive a backdated credit. repayment reform.
Senator Mehreen Faruqi's proposal, decided on voices, would have called for student debt to be wiped, university and TAFE to be free, and mandatory placements to be paid at least minimum wage.
Defeated on voices
The chamber decided this amendment without a counted division, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes.
Senator David Pocock's proposal, decided on voices, would have called for reform of Job Ready Graduates, changed HELPThe student loan system covered by this bill, where debt grows each year through indexation and can now receive a backdated credit. indexation timing, and stopped indexation on amounts already repaid.
Defeated on voices
The chamber decided this amendment without a counted division, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes.
Senator Tammy Tyrrell's proposal, decided on voices, would have urged changes to HELPThe student loan system covered by this bill, where debt grows each year through indexation and can now receive a backdated credit. repayments, lower funding contributions for practical placements, and recognition of overseas placements as course credit.
Defeated on voices
The chamber decided this amendment without a counted division, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes.
This list includes amendment votes, procedural votes and votes on the bill itself.
Parliamentary debate
Start here — lead voices
Jason Clare supports the bill, saying it is the first stage of the Universities AccordThe major review and reform blueprint that this bill says it is implementing in stages. and will make higher education fairer by cutting HELPThe student loan system covered by this bill, where debt grows each year through indexation and can now receive a backdated credit. debt, creating a Commonwealth prac paymentA new federal payment for eligible students on compulsory placements in courses like teaching, nursing, midwifery and social work., and expanding fee-free university ready courses.
Read in Hansard ↗Faruqi opposes the bill as far too weak, arguing it only offers bandaid relief for student debt and unpaid placements while leaving the deeper higher education crisis untouched.
Read in Hansard ↗Haines supports the bill and says it delivers important Universities AccordThe major review and reform blueprint that this bill says it is implementing in stages. reforms, especially lower HECS indexation and paid prac placements.
Read in Hansard ↗Ryan supports the bill because it makes some needed changes to HECS indexation and student support, but says it does not go far enough to fix the broken student debt system.
Read in Hansard ↗All speeches by bloc
24 speakers · 27 contributions · 24 support
Hansard records 2 separate contributions by Jason Clare on this bill. They are grouped here so the speaker is listed once.
Minister's second reading speech
Jason Clare supports the bill, saying it is the first stage of the Universities AccordThe major review and reform blueprint that this bill says it is implementing in stages. and will make higher education fairer by cutting HELPThe student loan system covered by this bill, where debt grows each year through indexation and can now receive a backdated credit. debt, creating a Commonwealth prac paymentA new federal payment for eligible students on compulsory placements in courses like teaching, nursing, midwifery and social work., and expanding fee-free university ready courses. He presents it as practical relief for students and workers who were hit hard by last year's indexation rise.
“This bill is an important part of achieving that goal.”Read this contribution in Hansard ↗
Second reading speech
Jason Clare supports the bill and says it is an important first stage of the Universities AccordThe major review and reform blueprint that this bill says it is implementing in stages. reforms, because it cuts student debt, supports mandatory placements, expands fee-free university ready courses, and helps more students from poorer and regional backgrounds get to university. He also notes the government will not back amendments that would broaden the prac payment beyond the recommended priority courses, but will support a review after three years.
“This bill helps with the cost of degrees, it helps with the cost of living and, most importantly, it helps with the cost of so many young people missing out on the chance to go to university in the first place—in particular, young people from poor families, from our outer suburbs and from the regions and the bush. I commend the bill to the House.”Read this contribution in Hansard ↗
“This bill is an important part of achieving that goal.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“This bill is a very important piece of legislation for my community and particularly for regional communities and outer suburban communities. I am very keen to see one or more of these suburban hubs established in my electorate.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“I am pleased to rise in support of the Universities Accord (Student Support and Other Measures) Bill 2024, as brought to the House by the magnificent, masterful and always amusing Minister for Education. This bill provides substantial support for past, current and prospective students through a variety of forward-thinking and progressive reforms.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“It is a good day when we get to set up our higher education system for the future of this country. It is a good day when we get to support students with very real cost-of-living relief. It is a good day when we get to continue to make sure that our country is a fair place into the future and that we are offering the opportunities of higher education, with all that that entails, to Australians now and into the future. I commend this bill to the House.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“This bill will allow students who go on practical placements as part of their degree to finally be paid for the work that they do. I cannot stress enough how important that cost-of-living relief will be to the hundreds of students in my electorate who will get money back in their pockets as a result of this policy.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“Today, with this bill, we progress some of those core reforms recommended in the Universities Accord. The Universities Accord provided us with a blueprint to reform higher education over the next several decades. It's a long-term plan to make the sector even stronger. Funding and implementing it will take more than one single budget cycle. This bill is the first phase of the implementation of the recommendations.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“We on this side are on the side of students, teachers and education providers, and the bills that are before the Senate this week are a down payment on the future of the higher education sector. I encourage those across this chamber to support this bill.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“I rise to support the government's Universities Accord (Student Support and Other Measures) Bill 2024 that is before the House this evening. The Albanese Labor government is committed to making life easier for all Australians, and that's why I am so pleased to support this bill being put forward this evening by the Minister for Education. It implements key measures, recommended in the final report from the Australian Universities Accord, led by Professor Mary O'Kane and supported by a host of other very esteemed Australians.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“I want to thank the Minister for Education for his work in pulling this together. It is an outstanding piece of reform. It is one I'm very proud of, and I commend the bill to the House.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“The Albanese Labor government is committed to ensuring that every Australian, regardless of their background, has the opportunity to access quality higher education. I would like to thank the Minister for Education for truly listening to the concerns of my community and other communities around Australia regarding reducing student debts and the introduction of the prac payment. Concerns were raised particularly around reducing financial barriers, expanding access and ensuring our regional institutions, like the University of Wollongong, continue to thrive. This is all reflected in this bill. By supporting our higher education students, we are building a stronger, more equitable Australia where education serves as the foundation for a brighter future for all.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“With this bill is ensuring that we are indexing HECS in a way that is going to be fairer and more affordable. I think what the education minister is doing here is saying that, yes, you do need to contribute to your education, but we do want to make it fairer. We do want to make sure that times of high inflation don't result in your debt increasing dramatically.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“This bill enacts many of the important changes announced in the 2024-25 budget. We're making HECS-HELP fairer for all Australians and wiping around $3 billion in student debt for three million Australians. This has been incredibly well received in my community, especially, as I mentioned, following the enormous number of responses to our survey and the clear community view that we need to make university more affordable for people right across Australia. What this means is that someone with an average HECS debt of about $26,500 will see that debt cut by about $1,200.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“I'm going to end where I began: education changes lives. It changes careers. It changes families. It changes communities. This groundbreaking bill is only one part of the Universities Accord, but it is a really important part because this bill is about making education more affordable for all. The reduction in financial barriers for students will particularly encourage people from lower SES communities and regional areas, women, mature-age students and those who disproportionately experience barriers to tertiary education to consider a tertiary course and a tertiary qualified career. I commend the bill to the House.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Hansard records 2 separate contributions by Susan Templeman on this bill. They are grouped here so the speaker is listed once.
Second reading speech
Templeman supports the bill because it will cut student debt, introduce paid practical placement support, and make fee-free uni-ready courses available to helpThe student loan system covered by this bill, where debt grows each year through indexation and can now receive a backdated credit. people stay in education. She says these changes will ease financial pressure and encourage students into needed professions.
“I am really pleased to be standing to support a piece of legislation, the Universities Accord (Student Support and Other Measures) Bill 2024, that is going to make a tangible difference to people who have made the decision to go to university to further their education. With that decision come costs that they pay, not only in the debt that they accrue but also in the sacrifices they make in terms of earnings, and this bill will go some way to supporting people and encouraging them in that decision.”Read this contribution in Hansard ↗
Second reading speech
Susan Templeman says Labor strongly supports the bill because it makes student debt fairer, cuts HELPThe student loan system covered by this bill, where debt grows each year through indexation and can now receive a backdated credit. indexation, and creates Commonwealth payments for students on mandatory placements. She argues these changes will ease cost-of-living pressure and helpThe student loan system covered by this bill, where debt grows each year through indexation and can now receive a backdated credit. more people complete university and enter teaching, nursing, social work, and midwifery.
“It's been a long time between drinks, as they say. When I first started speaking on the Universities Accord (Student Support and Other Measures) Bill 2024 on 12 September, I had the opportunity to highlight some of the key parts of the original bill, and I'm delighted to be supporting the original bill, rather than the amendments.”Read this contribution in Hansard ↗
“I support this bill as it represents a commitment to the future of our students and to the broader Australian community. Together, we can create an education system that empowers every individual to achieve their potential, ensuring that higher education is a pathway to success for all Australians. The Universities Accord is not just a legislative document; it is a vision for the future of higher education in Australia. It embodies the principles of equity, accessibility and support that are essential for fostering a thriving educational environment.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“I am proud to support this bill, the Universities Accord (Student Support and Other Measures) Bill 2024, and I am so proud to be part of a government that is taking action to make higher education better and fairer and to create reliable pathways to higher education and give more people, including in communities like mine on the Central Coast of New South Wales, the opportunity to get the education and training that they need for a steady job and a good career.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“The Universities Accord (Student Support and Other Measures) Bill 2024 is an important part of achieving that goal. This bill is the first stage of the implementation of the Universities Accord, responding to 29 of the accord's 47 recommendations. We know that, after 10 years of coalition neglect, the tertiary system will have to be reformed in stages. Piece by piece, we will build up Australia's tertiary education system to be one that is high performing and truly fair.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“This bill represents that significant step in implementing the recommendations of the Universities Accord and ensuring that we get good quality educational outcomes for more Australians and greater equity and access to a university education for more Australians.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Hansard records 2 separate contributions by Cassandra Fernando on this bill. They are grouped here so the speaker is listed once.
Second reading speech
Fernando supports the bill, saying it will cut student debt, change loan indexation so debts do not rise faster than wages, and expand practical support for students. She also backs its measures on paid placements, university-ready courses and student-led services as part of making higher education more accessible.
“The Universities Accord (Student Support and Other Measures) Bill 2024 is a crucial step forward in realising this vision. This bill addresses four key priorities outlined in the Universities Accord. It will wipe out approximately $3 billion of HECS debt for over three million Australians. Education should be a pathway to opportunity, not a road to a lifetime of debt. This is why Labor is wiping out $3 billion in student debt and changing the indexation of loans so that student loans will never increase faster than wages. For someone with an average HECS debt of about $26,500, this change will mean a reduction of around $1,200. For someone with a debt of $45,000, it will mean a reduction of around $2,000. This is not just about numbers; it is about providing real relief to real people. In Holt alone, this change will benefit 19,600 people with student debt.”Read this contribution in Hansard ↗
Second reading speech
Fernando supports the bill and says it will reduce student debt, helpThe student loan system covered by this bill, where debt grows each year through indexation and can now receive a backdated credit. essential workers finish placements, expand access to university prep courses, and strengthen student representation to make higher education fairer and more accessible. She urges the House to support it wholeheartedly.
“Thank you for standing up for working-class students and those from the outer suburbs like Holt. It is truly commendable to see a minister who places communities like Holt at the heart of our nation's future rather than as an afterthought. I commend this bill to the House and urge all my colleagues to support it wholeheartedly.”Read this contribution in Hansard ↗
“This bill is about taking a good education system and making it fairer. It's about wiping HECS debt. For my electorate alone, some 25,000 people will have their HECS debt wiped as a result. It's about bringing in, for the first time, a Commonwealth prac payment, making sure we support people who are in the final stages of their study. It's about expanding Fee-Free Uni Ready courses so that more people can go into our universities and be welcomed in without having that big upfront fear of fees.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“By wiping student debt, introducing paid prac and strengthening FEE-FREE University Ready courses, we are making progress, we are creating pathways and we are helping Australians into the good, secure jobs that await them at the end of their courses.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“As the Minister for Education said, this bill helps with the cost of degrees. It also helps with the cost of living and, most importantly, it helps with the cost of so many young people missing out on the chance to go to university in the first place—in particular, young people from poor families, from the outer suburbs, and from the regions and the bush. I foreshadow a second reading amendment, and I commend this bill to the chamber.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“The Universities Accord (Student Support and Other Measures) Bill 2024 is a piece of legislation that I absolutely support, along with all of my Labor colleagues of course. We are talking about making it easier for young people to engage in their tertiary education knowing that their HECS payments will be indexed into the future to whichever is cheapest: CPI or wages.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
7 speakers · 3 support · 1 oppose · 2 mixed · 1 unclear
“Despite the exhortation of the member for Newcastle for the coalition to declare its position today, the coalition notes that the government itself has referred the bill to the Senate Education and Employment Legislation Committee for an inquiry. As is appropriate in those circumstances, the coalition will not pre-empt our final position on the bill until after we have heard from all the key stakeholders, and I understand the committee is due to report back to the Senate by 3 October this year.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“While the coalition do support this bill, we are proposing several amendments, which I will discuss in due course. Fundamentally, we do raise very serious concerns about the way in which Labor has imposed such a massive impost on student debt for three million Australians. The Minister for Education, Mr Clare, has talked a very big game on the support mechanisms for students but we do raise concerns about the deficient way in which this government is in fact supporting students in practice.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“Labor's turn toward paid placements recognises the dire current shortages we are grappling with and highlights the need for continuous and targeted investment in our education and training systems to build a stronger, more resilient workforce for the future. Instead of addressing the root causes of these shortages, Labor is offering the bandaid solution in this bill that is too little too late for regional Australians.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“The coalition does support this bill, though we will be proposing several amendments. But in my contribution here today I want to join with Senator Henderson in calling out the government for some of the failures that they have been presiding over in the higher education sector.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“While the coalition will not stand in the way of this bill in the House, there are many unanswered questions, which is why it is important that there be an inquiry into this bill in the other place.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“So I say this to the government in all frankness and in all honesty: try to do everything you can to bring down the costs for our students, particularly for our regional students, and please, please, please make sure that stakeholder engagement is front and centre with the likes of UNE, CSU, CQU and other regional universities because what you're doing is hurting them and hurting the students, who are indeed Australia's future.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“With those comments, I say we are not standing in the way of the bill, necessarily, but are reserving our position for the outcome of the Senate inquiry process.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
9 speakers · 10 contributions · 2 support · 5 oppose · 2 mixed
“Overall, while this bill in all its parts makes some positive changes, the entrenched issues within our tertiary sector require urgent, widespread and structural reforms. We call on the government to wipe all student debt, to make university and TAFE free and to pay all students doing mandatory placements no less than the minimum wage.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“I foreshadow I will be moving a second reading amendment and substantive amendments to fix this bill.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“And—classic Labor—they've decided to do the bare minimum. But at least this one is a step in the right direction. Wiping 20 per cent off student debt is not as strong as it should be, because what we should be doing in this country is wiping all of student debt, but wiping 20 per cent off it is a good start and a step in the right direction, so legislate it. Legislate it this week.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“These little tweaks—these bandaid answers—from Labor just don't touch the sides. In fact, people are feeling absolutely betrayed. This isn't going to provide any cost-of-living relief right now at all. People thought, when they saw the headlines, 'There's going to be a change to student debt.' People were excited and thought that maybe there would be some relief. But it's not making a difference to the struggles that people are going through right now. It is more gaslighting.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“That all words after "reading" be omitted with a view to substituting the following words:”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Hansard records 2 separate contributions by Max Chandler-Mather on this bill. They are grouped here so the speaker is listed once.
Second reading speech
Chandler-Mather opposes the bill because he says it only makes a small tweak to HECS indexation and leaves students with huge debts. He argues the government is offering token relief instead of properly fixing student debt.
“Nothing is a greater demonstration, perhaps, of the hypocrisy in this place than when it comes to HECS debt—the fact that so many politicians in this place got to go to university for free, graduate without any student debt and often buy a house for a much smaller fraction of their income than people do now, and then those same politicians in this place turn around and declare that it's okay for students to cop tens of thousands of dollars in HECS and HELP debt, in student debt, and pay tens of thousands of dollars just to go to university, often when they're told that the only way they're going to get a job is by going to university. Nothing is a better demonstration of the rank hypocrisy in this place than both Labor and the Liberals declaring that it's okay to charge students tens of thousands of dollars to go to university and cop massive HECS debts that are barely being changed by this government bill, the Universities Accord (Student Support and Other Measures) Bill 2024.”Read this contribution in Hansard ↗
Second reading speech
Max Chandler-Mather opposes the bill because he says it leaves students with huge debts and only offers token support for unpaid placements. He argues the government should instead tax big corporations and property investors properly, wipe student debt, and make university free again.
“Politics is ultimately about choices, and the government could choose to tax multinational gas corporations fairly, to wipe student debt and to make university free again. They could choose to phase out tax handouts for property investors and to make university free again. Instead what they've chosen is desperate poverty for students, huge student debt, crippling debt for life, and a deeply unequal and unfair country.”Read this contribution in Hansard ↗
“Labor's tweaks will not provide an ounce of relief to those struggling under ballooning debts in this cost-of-living crisis.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“Now, I'm not sure if there are any spaces available in politics 101, and the Prime Minister might actually have to pay for the course this time. In it, he might learn that the benches over on that side of the chamber are where the government sit. They have the ability to implement this, and we Greens are over here willing to pass it right now, because students cannot wait.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“If these changes are made—and the Greens will support them being made—student debt will still have increased by 11½ per cent under this government's watch. Where's the bill to cancel student debt completely?”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
1 speaker · 1 oppose
“This bill would make some minor changes to the indexation of HECS debt, bringing it down over 2½ years from 16 per cent to 11.1 per cent. But it only tinkers around the edges. This bill does nothing to address the fact that the average HECS debt has tripled in two decades. It does nothing to make sure that it's worthwhile getting into debt for a degree. It does nothing to address the fact that many people going to university would be better off getting a trade qualification. It does nothing to address universities using prerecorded lectures, sometimes more than three years old, and playing them back once a week forever. There's no expense, just lots of revenue.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
11 speakers · 12 contributions · 9 support · 2 mixed
“While I commend the government for its action on some key recommendations of the Universities Accord review, the work is not done. As a regional Independent, I will ensure the education needs of regional, rural and remote Australia are strongly represented in this place and I will continue to push the government to do better. All in all, I'm pleased with the reforms that are here and I commend this bill to the House.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“The government must immediately reverse the gross inequities visited upon art students by the Job-ready Graduates scheme. I will move an amendment to that effect in the Consideration in Detail stage of this legislation. I will also move an amendment allowing for the payments made by Australians to be accredited to their accounts before indexation is applied each year, to stop this government from gouging extra money from the young and the vulnerable. The Australian tertiary education system is, at this time, broken. A government that really believes in it will demonstrate the commitment required to fixing it, and it will do that now.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“Recent conversations with people like Hugo have made me question whether Australia is on the right track in terms of making sure each generation is better off than the previous generation, and I don't believe that we are.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“So I do wholeheartedly support the bill. It shifts the dial ever so slightly on the issue of fairness and an equitable future.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“I rise to speak on the Universities Accord (Student Support and Other Measures) Bill 2024. At the outset, I should say this bill is better than no bill at all. I'll be supporting the bill, more out of desperation than joy. We need action in this space, and some action is better than none. But, I have to tell you, I'm disappointed we haven't done more to fix the real problems facing our students.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“In closing, I believe my community will welcome this as a good piece of legislation, which could be made better by the adoption of the amendments moved by the member for Goldstein and others on the crossbench. For this reason, I commend the amendments to the government.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“While this bill is a step forward, I fear it is not enough to help struggling students who need greater support as they navigate higher education. We need to get the blueprint right. If our students and allied health students are disincentivised to study then this will place even more pressure on universities financially.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“In conclusion, I'll support this bill because it will make a small difference to some of the students that are studying some courses and it will reduce HECS repayments for some years. But I do not think it is anywhere near enough to overcome the many current challenges in the higher education sector. Our kids are struggling to buy a house, pay for higher education, be financially secure and eventually have a family. I urge the government to do much, much more to support university and VET students.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Hansard records 2 separate contributions by David Pocock, including an amendment-moving contribution. They are grouped here so the speaker is listed once.
Second reading speech
Pocock says he welcomes parts of the bill, especially the indexation change, but thinks it only goes partway and leaves the deeper student debt problems unresolved. He wants much faster and broader reform, including changes to Job-ready GraduatesThe earlier higher education funding package that critics say still leaves some student contribution rates and course settings too high., so his support is conditional on the government doing more.
“I welcome a number of measures in this bill—I thank the government for them—but I urge the government to stop tinkering. Australians are looking to us for wholesale change on things that are fundamentally broken. If the system is broken, let's not just try and patch it up and say, 'Well, it'll keep going for a bit longer; she'll be right.' Let's actually change it. That seems like the reason that people put us in this place.”Read this contribution in Hansard ↗
Moved amendment
Pocock backs the bill only alongside changes to student debt settings, and uses his second reading amendment to press the government to fix Job Ready Graduates and change loan indexation. His position is conditional because he says the bill should be paired with reforms that stop student debt from getting worse.
“At the end of the motion, add ", but the Senate:”Read this contribution in Hansard ↗
“This bill takes some steps towards that and I urge the government to do more in this parliament while there is still time. I commend the bill to the House.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“The Universities Accord (Student Support and Other Measures) Bill 2024 is a welcome first step in alleviating some of the unfair and unnecessary pressures facing Australian students and those with ballooning HECS-HELP debts.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Record
House · Introduced and read a first time
Introduced
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
House · Second reading moved
Second reading opened
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
House · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
House · Second reading agreed to
Second reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
House · Consideration in detail: amendments considered
Amendment packages agreed
The chamber considered amendments before the bill moved to the next stage.
House · Consideration in detail debate
Consideration in detail
The chamber considered the bill in detail and dealt with amendments before the next stage.
House · Third reading agreed to
Third reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Senate · Introduced and read a first time
Introduced
The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.
Senate · Second reading moved
Second reading opened
A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.
Senate · Second reading debate
Second reading debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Senate · Second reading agreed to
Second reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.
Senate · Committee of the Whole debate
Committee of the Whole debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Senate · Committee of the Whole debate
Committee of the Whole debate
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Senate · Third reading agreed to
Third reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Parliament · Finally passed both Houses
Passed both houses
Both houses passed the bill in the same form, completing parliamentary passage.
Assent · Assent
Assent
The Governor-General gave Royal AssentThe point when the bill became an Act and its measures could start taking legal effect., turning the bill into an Act.
Senate Education and Employment Legislation Committee; Committee report (03/10/2024)
Referred to committee
Referred to Committee (15 Aug 2024): Senate Education and Employment Legislation Committee; Committee report (3 Oct 2024)
APH bill page notes
