The Senate Education and Employment Legislation Committee agreed yesterday to undertake an inquiry into the quality of governance at Australian higher education providers, following calls for its establishment by Chair of the Committee, Labor Senator Tony Sheldon, late last week.
When calling for the inquiry late last week, Sheldon labelled the higher education sector as “lawless”.
“There’s no other job in Australia where you can be paid so exorbitantly while performing so badly, with seemingly no consequences or accountability for the impact on university staff and students,” Sheldon said.
Submissions to the inquiry are now open and close on 3 March, with the Committee to report by 4 April 2025 (which may or may not give an indication about timing for the election). Sheldon has also flagged an intention to hold public hearings.
The inquiry will consider:
- The adequacy of the powers available to the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency to perform its role in identifying and addressing corporate governance issues at Australian higher education providers, with particular reference to:
The composition of providers’ governing bodies and the transparency, accountability and effectiveness of their functions and processes, including in relation to expenditure, risk management and conflicts of interest;
b. The standard and accuracy of providers’ financial reporting, and the effectiveness of financial safeguards and controls;
c. Providers’ compliance with legislative requirements, including compliance with workplace laws and regulations;
d. The impact of providers’ employment practices, executive remuneration, and the use of external consultants, on staff, students and the quality of higher education offered; and
e. Any related matters.
While the international education sector is not named in the terms of the inquiry, Professor George Williams, Vice-Chancellor of Western Sydney University told AFR that universities will use the inquiry to “make the point that we have a bed for every international student and we need the growth”.
Sheldon said “a strong, well-managed higher education sector is essential to the wellbeing of staff and students, our economy and national interest”.
Standing Order 25(2)(a)(v) gives the Senate Committee the power to inquire into and report upon the “performance of the departments and agencies allocated to them”.
Submissions to the Committee can be made here.
