​ATEC is about to be a happening thing.
The Senate committee report into the establishing legislation covers in detail the comprehensive criticism in just about all submissions of the commissions inadequate independence and acknowledges, “scope for the model to evolve through implementation and review.”
However, the committee concludes, “further delay in creating a steward would leave the sector without the guidance it urgently requires. Australia needs a body to provide long‑term direction for the tertiary sector, and these bills offer the most practical way to achieve that.”
The reports follows capitulation last month by all the university lobbies. As Vicki Thomson from the Group of Eight put it, “we will not be better off without an ATEC.”
Coalition senators demur, opposing the Bill outright, quoting submissions to the inquiry at length and warning, it lacks “legislative clarity, proper safeguards, and a credible demonstration that the proposed body will improve on existing frameworks.”
This means the government needs the support of the Greens which has enough votes for the Bill to pass. And it appears they will. The comrades’ dissenting report calls for the end of the Job Ready Graduates funding model but goes no further. That will occur when the Greens own bill to abolish JRG comes on. Otherwise the Greens propose eight amendments some of which the coalition might vote down.
They may not, for example, want ATEC investigating “student contributions” to course costs, which would remind the world JRG was created on the LNP’s watch. And the government might make concessions, calls for “clarity” in the regulatory role of TEQSA is surely not a bill-killer. Ditto on including “an explicit focus on research” in ATEC’s roles and allowing it investigate what it likes without direction from the Minister.
So, one way or another universities are going to get an ATEC. Not least because Education Minister Jason Clare wants one and people trust him. Independent ACT senator David Pocock explains in his committee statement, recommending 11 amendments, mostly like the Greens.
“The Albanese Government, and Education Minister, the Hon. Jason Clare MP in particular, deserves credit for continuing to pursue higher education reform over both their first, and now second terms of government. From establishing a legislated National Student Ombudsman to amending the rate of indexation on student debt and now legislating the Commission, these are key achievements that deserve appropriate recognition.”
Good-o, except Mr Clare will not be Minister for ever.