Release type: Joint Media Release

Date:

ATEC passes Parliament

Ministers:

The Hon Jason Clare MP
Minister for Education
The Hon Andrew Giles MP
Minister for Skills and Training

Legislation to establish the Australian Tertiary Education Commission (ATEC) passed the Parliament today. 

This is a significant step to help build the tertiary education system Australia needs now and into the future. 

The ATEC is a key recommendation of the Australian Universities Accord. It will: 

  • help break down the barriers between university and Vocational Education and Training (VET)
  • allocate funding under the new Managed Growth Funding system
  • implement Needs-based Funding within the core funding model
  • negotiate mission-based compacts to support a diverse, responsive and high-performing sector 
  • provide expert, independent advice to government
  • publish a State of the Tertiary Education System Report every year
  • take over responsibility for the Higher Education Standards Framework from the current Higher Education Standards Panel.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Education Jason Clare:

“Of all things in the Accord, I think this is the most important. 

“This is real long-term systemic reform. 

“Instead of the hunger games we have at the moment where universities are encouraged to be the same size and eat each other alive for students, the ATEC will help us build something different. 

“It will help us build a system that’s bigger than we have today, double the size.

“It will look at how to make it easier to move between university and TAFE and make getting the skills you need quicker and cheaper. 

“It will be independent. It will be able to tell government things they don’t want to hear and call out the things that need to happen next. 

“This is all part of our work to build a better and fairer education system.”

Quotes attributable to Minister for Skills and Training Andrew Giles:

“Establishing the ATEC is a great milestone for education and training in Australia. We now have a dedicated body to drive the work to bring our university and vocational education and training sectors closer together.

“The establishment of the ATEC makes real our ambitions for a joined up tertiary education system, in which vocational and higher education pathways are equally valued.

“For the wider community, this means our tertiary education sector can be more responsive to the evolving needs of the workforce – so we have the right skills for the jobs of today and tomorrow.”