The Senate hearing on the ESOS Amendment bill kicks off today in Canberra. The program is full and there are some notable omissions.
Firstly, who is getting a hearing? Those invited to share thoughts are:
Group of Eight (Submission 40), Ms Vicki Thomson, Chief Executive and Director
Regional Universities Network (Submission 24), Mr Alec Webb, Chief Executive Officer
Universities Australia (Submission 19), Mr Luke Sheehy, Chief Executive Officer
Independent Higher Education Australia (Submission 13) ,Hon Dr Peter Hendy, Chief Executive Officer, Dr James Hart, Policy and Research Manager
Independent Tertiary Education Council Australia (Submission 60), Mr Felix Pirie, Deputy Chief Executive, Policy and Research
National Tertiary Education Union (via videoconference) (Submission 31), Dr Terri MacDonald,, Director, Public Policy and Strategic Research
Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Submission 36), Dr Jodie Trembath, Director of Skills, Employment and Small Business
Business Council of Australia (via videoconference) (Submission 20), Ms Wendy Black, Executive Director, Policy
National Union of Students, Ms Ngaire Bogemann, National President, Mr Janageeth Logeswaran, Student President, Flinders University Student
Association
Australian National University (Submission 62), Professor Genevieve Bell AO, Vice-Chancellor and President
Monash University (Submission 23), Professor Sharon Pickering, Vice-Chancellor and President
University of Melbourne (Submission 46), Professor Duncan Maskell, Vice-Chancellor
University of Tasmania, Professor Rufus Black, Vice-Chancellor and President
Charles Darwin University (via videoconference) (Submission 8), Professor Scott Bowman AO, Vice-Chancellor and President
University of Adelaide and University of South Australia (Submission 30), Professor Jennie Shaw, Deputy-Vice Chancellor and Vice-President (Academic), University of Adelaide, Professor Jessica Gallagher, Deputy-Vice Chancellor (External Engagement), University of Adelaide (via videoconference), Ms Gabrielle Rolan, Pro Vice Chancellor: International, University of South Australia, (via videoconference)
University of Queensland (via videoconference) (Submission 18), Professor Deborah Terry AC, Vice-Chancellor and President, Dr Clare Hourigan, Director of Planning and Business Intelligence
Law Council of Australia (Submission 61), Ms Carina Ford, Chair, Migration Law Committee, Ms Lena Hung, Member, Migration Law Committee, Ms Jessica Neal, Senior Policy Lawyer
Department of Home Affairs (Submission 3), Ms Tara Cavanagh, Group Manager, Immigration Policy, Immigration Group, Mr Damien Kilner, First Assistant Secretary, Immigration Programs Division, Immigration Group
The full program can be seen here.
Those notably omitted include the International Education Association of Australia (IEAA), English Australia and Tafe Directors Australia.
In speaking with Phil Honeywood, CEO of the IEAA and Co-Convener of the Council for International Education, he said, “I have been assured there will be a second day; however, the senators need to align diaries.”
“Appearing on the second day will actually allow the IEAA to provide a comprehensive overview of the previous discussion and afford a concise and impactful summary of the issues to the committee.”
Ian Aird, CEO of English Australia, seconds Honeywood’s remarks, saying, “I too am of the understanding there will be a second day. I certainly hope so” he says.
“The ELICOS sector is the only sector that is 100 per cent international student facing so to not have the opportunity to front the hearing would be extremely disappointing.”
“I’m concerned that the conversation has become limited to where the caps will sit and on whom. The caps might be the headline, but every section of this Bill is seriously flawed. In its current form, any one of its provisions will cost jobs, hurt students, and do lasting damage to the economy.” He said.
Currently, no second day has been published on the Senate committee’s website.
Consultation on changes
The Koala understands that consultation on the bill were made to select small groups of Vice Chancellors last week. Good oh. It would appear the higher education sector is firmly in the eyes of the government.
Less so, it appears the independent higher education sector, seemingly have no same luxury afforded to them. Phil Honeywood said to the Koala, “It remains somewhat of a grey area as to how caps and allocations will be implemented for independent higher education providers (IHEP), and based on fairness and equality, the government should be consulting more widely with them.”
The Koala eagerly anticipates what will happen at today’s hearing, when a second day of hearing will be scheduled, and what that run sheet may look like.
