ACT Independent Senator David Pocock is proposing a suite of amendments to the government’s legislation that would change funding arrangements for universities.
The Universities Accord (Opening the Doors of Opportunity) Bill 2026 seeks to change the basis of higher education funding to a managed growth funding system and introduce needs-based funding grants for equity cohorts of students.
While a welcome step toward implementing the recommendations of the Universities Accord, evidence provided to the Committee strongly recommends a suite of important amendments to the bill.
Senator Pocock has put forward 27 recommendations for changes in his additional comments in support of the Committee’s report. These range from urgently reforming the failed job Ready Graduates scheme to legislating a minimum floor so the total number of Commonwealth Supported Places doesn’t go backwards, and improving the equity definition - something that impacts the University of Canberra more than most.
Most importantly, Senator Pocock recommends winding back excessive powers this bill would grant the Minister. While amendments in the house went some way to remedying this overreach, further reform is needed to prevent governments interfering with universities’ autonomy and academic freedom.
Under the powers still contained in the bill not only could a Minister ban a specific course for ideological reasons or at the behest of a vested interest, they could also mandate that certain courses are taught.
“Given what we have seen happen overseas, it’s not hard to imagine a government banning Welcome to Country, pronouns or Pride events on campus, or interfering with what universities teach about climate change, genocide and the Holocaust,” Senator Pocock said.
“No government should have this kind of power to impose its ideology on universities.”
Senator Pocock highlights evidence from the University of Canberra and Western Sydney University that show how the equity definition is failing universities who provide the most support to those students.
As the University of Canberra noted in their submission the ACT “is largely excluded from the Government’s Needs-based Funding model, with no support for Low Socio-Economic Status (Low SES) or regional students… The 2021 Socio-Economic Indexes for Areas (SEIFA) are not adequate in identifying disadvantage in the ACT. Using these tables there are no Low-SES areas in the ACT.”
Senator Pocock’s recommendations also make the case for stronger parliamentary oversight of the new regime, including making key determinations disallowable instruments of parliament.
The full report and list of recommendations is available here.