Commonwealth of Australia Explanatory Memoranda Commonwealth of Australia Explanatory Memoranda[Index] [Search] [Download] [Bill] [Help]
2016-2017-2018
THE PARLIAMENT OF THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Higher Education Support Amendment (National Regional Higher Education
Strategy) Bill 2018
EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM
and
STATEMENT OF COMPATIBILITY WITH HUMAN RIGHTS
Circulated by authority of
Cathy McGowan
Higher Education Support Amendment (National Regional Higher Education
Strategy) Bill 2018
OUTLINE
The delivery of higher education in regional Australia is central to the economic prosperity
of the nation. This bill provides a way forward to ensure regional Australia has a
comprehensive higher education strategy underpinning policy decisions of Government.
This Bill mandates that the Government maintain a strategic plan and analysis of regional
higher education and recognises the role of regional universities in sustaining economic
growth and supporting employment in regional Australia.
Support for delivery of higher education in regional areas is often seen only as an issue of
equity - focused on improved access, participation and completion rates. While equity is
important, regional education is also an essential driver of growth and prosperity of
regional Australia.
A National Regional Higher Education Strategy will put regional higher education at the
centre of integrated policy and programs across education, research, innovation,
employment and regional development.
Regional universities play a unique role in developing regional economies and contributing
to the social and cultural development of their regions. They act as an anchor for
investment and workforce development.
One of the biggest threats to the sustainability of rural communities is a declining
population of young people. Three-quarters of students who study at regional universities
stay in regional areas after they graduate. Regional universities educate the future regional
workforce and help to grow and stabilise the population of regional Australia.
The strategy should be developed in partnership with all levels of government, regional
higher education providers - their representative bodies and industry. The strategy should
identify opportunities to leverage regional economic advantages to better create economic
development, industry expansion and employment, in consultation with regional
development authorities.
The Minister will be required to table the strategy in parliament six months after the bill
receives the Royal Assent and revise the strategy every four years.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The bill will have no financial impact.
NOTES ON CLAUSES
Clause 1: Short title
Clause 1 is a formal provision specifying the short title of the Act.
Clause 2: Commencement
The Act commences on the day after the Act receives the Royal Assent.
Clause 3: Schedules
This clause gives effect to the provisions in Schedule 1 of the bill.
Schedule 1 - Amendments
Higher Education Support Act 2003
Item 1 inserts, after section 238-7, a direction to the Minister to develop a national regional
higher education strategy.
This section outlines what the strategy must include:
a) strategies to support the provision of higher education in regional areas,
including a review of regional loading;
b) strategies to increase the representation of regional students in higher
education;
c) strategies to address the sustainability of rural communities and the declining
population of young people in regional centres;
d) strategies to provide greater support for those transitioning between
secondary and higher education, including support to stay in a regional area
or to relocate from a regional area to an urban area;
e) strategies to ensure there is recognition of the workforce and economic
development requirements of the community in developing higher education
policy;
f) strategies to support the role of regionally based higher education providers
in creating diverse and resilient regional economies, taking into consideration
other relevant policies and programs.
This section requires that the first strategy must be tabled in each House of the Parliament
on or before the first sitting day of that House after six months after the bill receives the
Royal Assent.
The Minister will be required to revise the strategy and table a copy every four years after
the previous strategy was tabled.
STATEMENT OF COMPATIBILITY WITH HUMAN RIGHTS
Prepared in accordance with Part 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act
2011
Higher Education Support Amendment (National Regional Higher Education
Strategy) Bill 2018
This bill is compatible with the human rights and freedoms recognised or declared in the
international instruments listed in section 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny)
Act 2011.
Overview of the bill
A National Regional Higher Education Strategy will put regional higher education at the
centre of integrated policy and programs across education, research, innovation,
employment and regional development.
This Bill mandates that the Government maintain a strategic plan and analysis of regional
higher education and recognises the role of regional universities in sustaining economic
growth and supporting employment in regional Australia.
Human rights implications
This bill does not engage any of the applicable rights or freedoms.
Conclusion
This bill is compatible with human rights because it does not raise any human rights
issues.
Cathy McGowan