An Albanese government bill seeking to lift the 50 percent pass rule and ensure that all First Nation students are eligible for a funded place at a university has already passed the Senate.
The Higher Education Support Amendment Bill 2023 incorporates recommendations of the Accord Interim Report.
The bill argues that the 50 percent pass rule negatively impacts students from poor backgrounds and those from regional Australia.
It also pushes for extending demand-driven funding to metropolitan First Nations students as the current funding only applies to Indigenous students who live in regional Australia. Its passage is expected to double the number of Indigenous students at university in a decade.
“It doesn’t mean university is free, students will still pay HECS, but it guarantees a place at university to all Indigenous students who get the marks for the course they want to study,” Minister for Education Jason Clare said.
The minister noted that only 15 percent of people from poor families have a university qualification, and even lower among the Indigenous People.
“The position of the Liberal and National parties is deeply concerning. This passage of this legislation will open the door of opportunity wider for more Australians.”
Coalition Disapprove the Proposed Amendment
Meanwhile, both the Liberals and Nationals voted against the bill, with Liberal Senator Sarah Henderson saying that the 50 percent pass rule protects students from incurring massive student debts.“The Coalition does not support this bill because it removes a vital cost-of-living safeguard for Australian university students—the 50 percent pass rule—which protects students who are failing their course from incurring massive student debt with nothing to show for it,” Ms. Henderson said.
“This bill also represents bad policy because it includes a rushed and haphazard support-for-students policy which does not properly support students, whether it be on holding universities to account for deficient courses, ensuring that students complete their courses successfully or keeping students safe on campus.”
Ms. Henderson, however, noted that her party supports the extension of regional university centres, aimed to extend visible local access to tertiary education.
Greens Senator Larissa Waters expressed support for the bill but mentioned that it has failed to address other relevant issues in the higher education sector, including making university free and eliminating student debt.
“Overall, this is a positive bill. We do welcome the changes to improve access to universities for First Nations students and to support students who might be struggling to complete their units,” she said.
Universities Australia Expresses Support for the Bill
Universities Australia, comprised of the majority of the Australian universities, said it supports the bill which addresses several concerns the lobby group has been advocating.“Abolishing the punitive 50 percent pass rule introduced under the Job-ready Graduates package and delivering demand-driven funding for all Indigenous students, regardless of where they live, will certainly help with this,” Universities Australia CEO Catriona Jackson said.
“Universities have long advocated for these initiatives, and we are pleased the government has listened.”
