LABOR SENATORS’ DISSENTING REPORT

1.1        Labor Senators oppose the Higher Education and Research Reform Bill 2014 (the bill).

‘The principles of the Higher Education and Research Reform Bill 2014, and related matters’ References Committee Inquiry

1.2        The Labor Senators of the Committee refer to the concurrent inquiry of the Senate Standing References Committee on Education and Employment, ‘The principles of the Higher Education and Research Reform Bill 2014, and related matters’, and the comprehensive report presented by the Chair of that Committee.

1.2      Australia's higher education sector is robust and sustainable, and has an international reputation founded on the quality of its institutions and the courses they provide. It is innovative and equitable and something Australians can be proud of. The radical changes proposed in the Higher Education and Research Reform (HERR) bill could rapidly destroy this.

1.3      There has been no green paper, no white paper and no independent review of the system undertaken prior to the bill being introduced. As noted in the report of the References Committee, any substantial reform must be the result of the right structured process of design, modelling, safeguards, consultation and transition.

Recommendation 1

1.4      Labor Senators recommend that the Senate reject the Bill.

Senator Sue Lines
Deputy Chair                                                                      

Navigation: Previous Page | Contents | Next Page