January 19, 2026
IRU Submission on the Universities Accord (Australian Tertiary Education Commission) Bill 2025
Executive summary:
The Innovative Research Universities (IRU) strongly supports the reforms from the Universities Accord designed to achieve a more balanced and innovative higher education system with increased student participation and equity to meet Australia’s future needs.
The establishment of a new Australian Tertiary Education Commission (ATEC) is a key recommendation of the Accord. The IRU supports the creation of a Commission with the necessary independence and capability (expertise and resourcing) to deliver on its role to provide improved system stewardship.
In our submission below, the IRU notes positive aspects of the proposed legislation for the new ATEC and recommends that a number of specific amendments be made before the bill is passed. We recommend amendments in four key areas:
- Independence and capability to ensure that the ATEC can deliver on its stewardship role, including the ability to commission research and provide advice on its own initiative.
- Clarifying roles and responsibilities to improve alignment between the Objects of the Act and the Functions of the ATEC, including the ability to advise on the cost of higher education to students, as well as the cost to government.
- Implementing new mission-based compacts to support differentiation among universities as well as greater alignment between local needs and national goals.
- Improving data and transparency including through the proposed State of the Tertiary Education System report.
Read the full submission here.
