Michael McCormack (Riverina, National Party, Shadow Minister for International Development and the Pacific) Share this | Hansard source

At the outset, I acknowledge the minister in the chamber. I also pay tribute to the member for Wentworth for her comments about antisemitism in our tertiary institutions. I thank her for turning up too. I know it's important to her. I know it's very much part and parcel of her electorate. To the solidarity with Israel function on Monday, on the anniversary of the October 7 atrocities in the Middle East: I thank her for her continued advocacy for and on behalf of people of the Jewish faith who have been absolutely maligned in this country, particularly in the last 12 months since those attacks. She, like me and like all members, is absolutely horrified by what has taken place and by the lack of social cohesion in our country.

Whatever we can do, particularly in our tertiary institutions—it is not right that students feel pressured simply because of their faith. It is not right that students should require security to go to their place of learning. This must be stamped out, and it must be spoken up against. If we can't do it in this place, then where can we do it?

I appreciate that the Universities Accord (National Student Ombudsman) Bill 2024 is an important initiative for the government, but I recommend and encourage the very important amendment put forward by the member for Bradfield—somebody who comes to this space and place with a long love of education and who wants to improve the lot of our students at our universities. Having spoken to Renee Leon PSM, the Vice-Chancellor of Charles Sturt University, which has a campus in my hometown of Wagga Wagga, I know how important it is for regional students to feel safe and for regional students to get the very best education at that facility, which was established in 1989. I know how important all these things are, particularly because of having gone around the country with Senator Deb O'Neill and others in relation to a joint select committee inquiry, looking into what we should and can be doing as members of parliament for international students, following on from the worst of the COVID pandemic when international students found it so difficult to either go back home or continue to study in Australia because the international borders were closed.

I have just tabled a report which contains many good recommendations that the government would be well advised to adopt to improve international education. This particular bill, which seeks to establish a student ombudsman, in addition to other measures, will be far better if the amendment put forward by the Manager of Opposition Business in the House is adopted.

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