In an address that felt like a swansong, with the election tipped to bring him either a new portfolio or an unwelcome trip across to the other side of the Parliamentary chamber, Education Minister Jason Clare last night announced what would in the 90’s have been called a Clayton’s ATEC – the ATEC when you’re not having an ATEC.
The Australian Tertiary Education Commission (ATEC) is to hang up an interim shingle for a year, run by the same people who advocated for its creation in writing the Accord – with Professor Mary O’Kane as interim Chief Commissioner and the many-hatted Barney Glover and Larissa Behrendt in supporting roles.
One week after announcing Kerri-Lee Krause as TEQSA Chief Commissioner, in a move widely welcomed by the sector, Mr Clare has created an interim ATEC without specified powers, but an apparent remit to work out the shape, structure and presumably inter-regulatory relationships of the new omnipotent regulator of all post-school education. If Labor is re-elected, the powers and scale of ATEC and its interface with TEQSA and ASQA will be the subject of legislation planned for later this year with a start date for the new entity “by this time next year.”
Speaking to the Universities Australia Conference Dinner, Mr Clare spent much of his speech talking about childcare and school education, emphasising that the million extra enrolments envisaged by the Accord by 2050 would not happen without reform of pre-tertiary education.
Recognising the scale of the Accord’s recommendations, Mr Clare said he had ticked off many, but that, “The Accord is big – bigger than one Government.”
Noting that ‘None of us are in these jobs forever,’ he didn’t miss the chance to highlight some key failings of the sector, saying that he set up a Student Ombudsman because, “For years organisations like End Rape on Campus have been asking for someone to listen. For someone to act.” He also mentioned the Expert Council he has established, to look at VC pay and wage theft.
In relation to international student enrolment cuts, Mr Clare said he had replaced Ministerial Direction 107 slowing visa processing times with a visa reduction solution, “that is better and fairer.”
“I get how contentious this is, how important this revenue is, but it’s not the main game,” he said – adding he wanted the focus on, “how we build the sort of education system that Australia needs. That Australians need.
“A good education changes lives (but) a good education system can change countries.”
While the address had the vibe of a valedictory speech, Mr Clare, a genuine enthusiast for the power of education, left the door open to a continuing gig reforming the sector, reminding the audience of the 20% cut to student debt that Labor will implement if re-elected and leaving the door ajar for a reprise of his role; “I really look forward to addressing this gala dinner again, this time next year.”
