This bill became law on Dec 10th, 2024.
Education & skills
Once commenced, the Act allows Australian school students to be given a government schools identifierA government-issued number for school students that can later be turned into a lifelong student identifier after identity checks., extending the national student identifier system into schools.
The student identifier system covered VETJob-focused post-school training such as certificates and diplomas, which already used the identifier system before this bill extended it to schools. and university students but left school students outside it, making it harder to manage records across education sectors. This bill extends identifiers into schools, lets the same number follow a student into later study, and adds privacy protections for that data.
Since 2015, unique student identifiers have been used in higher education and vocational education and trainingJob-focused post-school training such as certificates and diplomas, which already used the identifier system before this bill extended it to schools., but school students were left outside that national system, making it harder to match records as children moved between schools and later into further study. Introduced in August 2024 as part of the National School Reform AgreementA national agreement between governments that frames the school reform work this bill forms part of. work, the bill extended identifiers into schools, let a schools identifierA government-issued number for school students that can later be turned into a lifelong student identifier after identity checks. become a lifelong student number after identity checks, and set up stronger federal privacy protections once the Act commences by Proclamation.
The main criticism was that expanding a lifelong student identifier and wider data-sharing across schools and tertiary education could expose children’s personal information unless privacy rules, limits on use and stronger safeguards are tightened. Those concerns were raised mainly by Coalition speakers and some supporters as reservations about implementation rather than opposition to the bill itself.
Jason Clare MP introduced this bill. It passed on the voices.
Did it become law?
Yes
Became law 10 Dec 2024
Final passage
Passed without a counted vote
Members called out ‘aye’ or ‘no’ — no individual votes were recorded.
Passage speed
117 days
From introduction to the latest recorded parliamentary step
Meaning
Once commenced, the Act allows Australian school students to be given a government schools identifierA government-issued number for school students that can later be turned into a lifelong student identifier after identity checks., extending the national student identifier system into schools.
A school student’s schools identifierA government-issued number for school students that can later be turned into a lifelong student identifier after identity checks. can become their lifelong student identifier once their identity is checked, so the same number can follow them into TAFE or university.
Schools, state and territory education bodies, TAFEs and universities can ask the RegistrarThe official who assigns, verifies and manages student and schools identifiers under the system. to confirm or provide a student’s identifier to help match records across education sectors.
State and territory school authorities can ask for a student’s school identity details, or ask the RegistrarThe official who assigns, verifies and manages student and schools identifiers under the system. to confirm details they already hold, to support school record management.
Once commenced, student identifiers, schools identifiers and related school identity details receive privacy protection, and privacy breaches can be handled under federal privacy law.
The purpose of the Bill is to amend the Student Identifiers Act 2014 (the Act) to enable the extension of the system of unique student identifiers for vocational education and training (VET) and higher education students to Australian school students, and to enable the Student Identifiers Registrar (the Registrar) to assign schools identifiers to all Australian school students.Better and Fairer Schools (Information Management) explanatory memorandum
An individual may apply to the Registrar for a schools identifier to be validated. The Registrar must validate the schools identifier if the individual’s identity has been verified, the identifier is the individual’s schools identifier, and the individual does not already have a student identifier.Better and Fairer Schools (Information Management) as-passed bill text
On request by an individual or by certain entities, including entities involved with vocational education and training, higher education or school education, the Registrar may verify that an identifier is the individual’s student identifier or schools identifier, or give the individual’s student identifier or schools identifier.Better and Fairer Schools (Information Management) as-passed bill text
The Registrar may also, on request by certain entities including entities involved with school education in a State or Territory, give information (called school identity management information) about a school student in that State or Territory to the entity, or verify any such information held by the entity.Better and Fairer Schools (Information Management) as-passed bill text
Records of student identifiers, schools identifiers and school identity management information (together called protected information) must be protected from misuse. Collection, use and disclosure of an individual’s protected information without the individual’s consent is prohibited, unless it is authorised by this Act. The Information Commissioner may deal with a breach of these rules as an interference with privacy under the Privacy Act 1988.Better and Fairer Schools (Information Management) as-passed bill text
Context
Since 2015, unique student identifiers have been used in higher education and vocational education and trainingJob-focused post-school training such as certificates and diplomas, which already used the identifier system before this bill extended it to schools., but school students were left outside that national system, making it harder to match records as children moved between schools and later into further study. Introduced in August 2024 as part of the National School Reform AgreementA national agreement between governments that frames the school reform work this bill forms part of. work, the bill extended identifiers into schools, let a schools identifierA government-issued number for school students that can later be turned into a lifelong student identifier after identity checks. become a lifelong student number after identity checks, and set up stronger federal privacy protections once the Act commences by Proclamation.
Unique student identifiers begin in higher education and VETJob-focused post-school training such as certificates and diplomas, which already used the identifier system before this bill extended it to schools.
The national identifier system started operating for higher education and vocational education and trainingJob-focused post-school training such as certificates and diplomas, which already used the identifier system before this bill extended it to schools. students, but it did not cover school students.
Hansard ↗Government introduces a bill to extend identifiers into schools
The minister said the bill would expand the Student Identifiers Act 2014The existing law being amended so the identifier system can be extended from higher education and VET into schools. so school students could be given a schools identifierA government-issued number for school students that can later be turned into a lifelong student identifier after identity checks. linked to later VETJob-focused post-school training such as certificates and diplomas, which already used the identifier system before this bill extended it to schools. and university study.
Hansard ↗House debate frames the records gap schools were dealing with
Members backing the bill said schools had long struggled to track students cleanly across transitions and systems, especially when records needed to follow children between sectors.
Hansard ↗Parliament passes the bill
Both houses agreed on the same text, clearing the way for schools identifiers and related data-sharing and privacy changes to become law.
Parliamentary timeline ↗Royal Assent creates Act awaiting commencement
Royal Assent turned the bill into an Act, but the operational changes start on a day fixed by Proclamation, or under the Act’s fallback commencement rule.
Parliamentary timeline ↗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
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step. For this bill, the Federation Chamber reported back later the same day and the House then completed its remaining formal steps that day.
Referred to Federation Chamber
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
Second reading debate
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 official House record shows the referral out and return both happened on the same day, before the House moved to its final formal votes.
Reported from Federation Chamber
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber. Later message exchanges with the other chamber were still recorded afterwards.
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 chamber considered amendments before the bill moved to the next stage.
Committee of the Whole debate
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
Third reading agreed to
The House dealt with Senate amendments or requests so both chambers could settle the bill in the same form.
Consideration of Senate message
Both houses passed the bill in the same form, completing parliamentary passage.
Finally passed both Houses
The Governor-General gave Royal Assent, turning the bill into an Act.
Key criticism
The main criticism was that expanding a lifelong student identifier and wider data-sharing across schools and tertiary education could expose children’s personal information unless privacy rules, limits on use and stronger safeguards are tightened. Those concerns were raised mainly by Coalition speakers and some supporters as reservations about implementation rather than opposition to the bill itself.
No party represented in the debate opposed the bill, but privacy safeguards were the main condition attached to support.
Privacy protections may be too weak
Critics warned that collecting and sharing more student data across schools, TAFEs and universities could create privacy risks for children if protections, oversight and legal safeguards are not strengthened alongside the scheme.
Use of student data needs tighter limits
Some supporters said privacy settings and permitted uses still need to be settled clearly, reflecting concern that the identifier system could be used more broadly than intended unless rules are spelled out carefully.
Further sources
Votes
The bill passed both chambers on the voices, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes for 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
The House agreed to the amendments made by the Senate, so the bill could pass both chambers in the same form.
Carried on voices
The chamber decided this amendment without a counted division, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes.
Senate
The Senate agreed on voices to changes letting the RegistrarThe official who assigns, verifies and manages student and schools identifiers under the system. use or disclose protected and personal information for school education research, subject to requirements set by the Education Ministerial CouncilThe group of education ministers that sets the conditions and rules for some uses of schools identifier data. and a ministerial instrument.
Carried on voices
The chamber decided this amendment without a counted division, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes.
Parliamentary debate
Start here — lead voices
Clare supports the bill and says it will extend student identifiers into schools to improve information transfer, support student tracking and pathways, and do so with strong privacy safeguards.
Read in Hansard ↗Paul Fletcher supports the bill and says the school student identifier will help track progress, transfer information more efficiently, and potentially support students who need extra help.
Read in Hansard ↗Ryan supports the bill and says the unique student identifierA student number that can follow a person across school, TAFE and university so records are easier to match. will help schools track vulnerable students, especially at transition points, so they do not fall through the cracks.
Read in Hansard ↗Ayres supports the bill and says it is needed to set up a national schools identifierA government-issued number for school students that can later be turned into a lifelong student identifier after identity checks. system that will improve student data transfer and future education policy.
Read in Hansard ↗All speeches by bloc
5 speakers · 6 contributions · 5 support
“I absolutely support this bill and hope that the negotiations continue around the use of the unique identifier, that what they can be used for and what they can't be used for is sensible and that privacy is protected in the process.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“I commend the bill to the Chamber.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
Hansard records 2 separate contributions by Jason Clare on this bill. They are grouped here so the speaker is listed once.
Second reading speech
Clare supports the bill and says it will extend student identifiers into schools to improve information transfer, support student tracking and pathways, and do so with strong privacy safeguards. He presents it as a long-awaited reform that satisfies national schooling agreement obligations.
“This bill satisfies the Commonwealth's obligations under the current National School Reform Agreement to set up the architecture for Schools Identifiers.”Read this contribution in Hansard ↗
Second reading speech
Jason Clare supports the bill and says it delivers a long-promised national schools identifierA government-issued number for school students that can later be turned into a lifelong student identifier after identity checks. system that has long had bipartisan backing. He argues it meets the Commonwealth's reform obligations and has now finally been delivered by the government.
“The bill meets the Commonwealth's obligations under the current National School Reform Agreement to get schools identifiers underway, and it's an initiative which has long enjoyed bipartisan support and has been a long time coming. It was first agreed at COAG under the Rudd government in 2009 and then included a decade later in the National School Reform Agreement struck by the former coalition government. It has now, finally, been delivered by this government in this bill.”Read this contribution in Hansard ↗
“With this bill, we will be expanding the USI system from VET and higher education to primary school students. Students will have a unique identifier that they will take with them throughout their education journey, not just through higher education as is the status quo. Secondary and primary school students will have one as well. It actually boggles the mind why this was not done in the first place. Anyway, it's the last national policy initiative to be delivered under the current schools agreement.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“Practical use cases for school identifiers must be agreed between the Minister for Education and state and territory education ministers. This important safeguard is backed by robust privacy protections in the bill. These safeguards keep privacy at the centre of the student identifier system, protecting students whilst they benefit from the opportunities a streamlined and unified system offers.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
3 speakers · 3 support
“I conclude by observing that it is pleasing that the coalition's leadership in relation to the unique student identifier has attracted strong bipartisan support. This is an important measure for school students now and into the future, when its use could potentially be expanded. We trust this will provide meaningful, practical support to young Australians and their families and lead to better school outcomes. I commend the bill to the House.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“As I said, this bill implements the USI in Australian schools. It is an important reform measure. It will enable students to move schools and to move interstate and take their information with them and to ensure when there are issues in student progress that those support interventions will perhaps be more easily able to be implemented. I do commend this bill to the house, but we really want to see those additional reforms driven in Australian classrooms.”Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
“Having made those comments—I intended to be brief—I'll conclude and commend this bill to the House. While we're passing this, I seek and hope for some update from the government on where they're at with considering, reviewing and improving the frameworks in place to protect information that we keep on people.”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 · Referred to Federation Chamber
Referred to Federation Chamber
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 · Reported from Federation Chamber
Reported from Federation Chamber
The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.
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: amendments considered
Amendment packages agreed
The chamber considered amendments before the bill moved to the next stage.
Senate · Third reading agreed to
Third reading agreed
The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.
House · Consideration of Senate message
House agreed to Senate amendments
The House dealt with Senate amendments or requests so both chambers could settle the bill in the same form.
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 Assent, turning the bill into an Act.
