The Government has opened its inquiry into the Australian Tertiary Education Commission (ATEC) Bill, with submissions closing on 15 January 2026.
Following the tabling of the ATEC legislation in Parliament last week, the Senate has referred the Universities Accord (Australian Tertiary Education Commission) Bill 2025 and Universities Accord (Australian Tertiary Education Commission) (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2025 to the Education and Employment Legislation Committee for inquiry and report.
The Senate Committee is due to report on 26 March 2026. The gap between submissions closing and report due date will provide an opportunity for public hearings to be held.
ATEC will be responsible for agreeing new mission-based compacts with individual universities, including determining numbers of domestic and international students (TKN 261125).
For more information about the inquiry and how to provide a submission, see here.
The timing is unlikely to be welcome news to those in the higher education sector with holiday plans for the summer.
