Zaneta Mascarenhas (Swan, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

The accord undertook an exhaustive review of the multitude of critical issues facing our higher education system. These include access, inclusivity, accountability and the interface between vocational education and the higher education system, sustainability of the system, and also cultivation of new knowledge and innovation that keeps up with the demand of skills. The comprehensive review, the most extensive in 15 years, engaged individuals from various sectors spanning business, STEM, humanities, laws and from across the political spectrum. The goal was to ensure a diverse range of perspectives and experiences to feed into the process.

It's worth noting that our universities have undergone significant transformations since my own time as a student. I attended Curtin University, which is in the heart of the electorate of Swan, where I studied chemistry and chemical engineering. I was lucky enough to study on a HECS exemption scholarship, because I fitted a number of equity categories. I was a female in a male dominated area. I was coming from country WA, and my dad was not in employment at the time. This scholarship was instrumental in propelling me towards a career in engineering and consulting in the mining industry, where I worked in climate change action for 12 years. It ignited my passion for learning and instilled a deep respect the tertiary sector, a sentiment that endures today.

Our universities have evolved with the advent of new technologies, which have redefined both teaching and learning methodologies. The changing landscape necessitates adapting our course offerings to meet the surge in demand for skills, knowledge and technological innovation. For example, the rapid development of artificial intelligence has ushered in a new era of demanding a paradigm shift in teaching, learning and research. This shift forces us to think about how we unlock technology and seize the opportunity and also how we capitalise on this and co-ordinate a national and integrated approach. This approach also needs to make sure that we enhance our capabilities and address the ever-evolving landscape in technology and innovation into 2023 and beyond.

This bill is a significant stride in that direction, and I'm proud that the government did not draft this legislation in isolation. The changes proposed by the bill emerged from a process that involved listening, consultation and the incorporation of feedback. This is because we have a government that listens and wants to work together with stakeholders to create change. Working together is what this government is about. Unlike the top-down approach of the former government that failed to take use of the opportunity to listen, we're making sure that we do this to not repeat the mistakes of the past. Instead we're creating a new culture to cultivate good governance and good public policy in collaboration with the people that are on the ground making decisions and implementing change. It is only through this approach that we can achieve success. There is no going back to the ways of the previous government. No-one wants that.

The measures introduced by this bill support students and have been finely calibrated based on consultations and reviews resulting from the formulation of guidelines that delineate from obligations of all universities. These guidelines underscore the identification of students facing challenges in their courses and mandate providing appropriate support to these individuals. The key provision of the bill is to cease the 50 per cent pass rule, which previously required students to pass 50 per cent of the units they undertook to receive Commonwealth supported places and fee-help assistance. Particularly as a country student, I saw many students struggle with that very first year of university—adapting to moving to the city and dealing with the autonomy of being a student. So I see this as being a rule that really benefits students who haven't had parents who have gone through the tertiary sector or who are new to a place. It will make sure that we actually see better outcomes for these students and also for Australia.

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