University student safety watchdog set for 2025 entry

University students heading to classes next year are set to be the first to receive bolstered protection under a new watchdog with the powers to investigate sexual assault complaints if institutions aren't doing enough. 

An independent student ombudsman will be stood up as part of a new plan to stamp out gender-based violence and will have the power to consider whether decisions and actions of universities are unreasonable, unjust or discriminatory.

Once a complaint has been escalated to the ombudsman, it can then recommend the uni take specific steps to resolve the issue, including the refunding or re-crediting of fees or changes to policies.

Australian Education Minister Jason Clare.
Education Minister Jason Clare told AAP expects a student ombudsman to be in place next year.

A gender-based violence unit will be set up inside the Education Department to ensure universities comply with recommendations the watchdog comes up with to remedy complaints.

Legislation is being worked through and is expected to hit parliament in the coming months, before the ombudsman is in place early next year, Education Minister Jason Clare told AAP.

A separately legislated national code will set out minimum standards and obligations universities have to prevent sexual violence and what actions they would need to take. 

The code has also been slated to come into effect in early 2025.

Greens senator Larissa Waters, who sat on a damning inquiry into universities that found the sector failed to adequately respond to sexual assaults, has called for the legislation to be prioritised.

"We have an open mind about whether a special new unit within the Education Department or direct ministerial intervention would achieve the best compliance results," she told AAP. 

“Whatever the enforcement body looks like, it must have a big stick to ensure compliance with recommendations."

The first tranche of reforms responding to the report will likely target people from disadvantaged backgrounds.

Mr Clare wouldn't pre-empt the government's response to the recommendations, set for the coming months, but flagged helping these people graduate university was a focus. 

"The report says that there should be completion bonuses that are paid to the university if they're successful in helping to boost the number or the percentage of students from disadvantaged backgrounds," he added. 

"At the moment the completion rates at university for students from from poor backgrounds is lower than the national average."

Independent MP Allegra Spender called for revamped HECS repayments, saying the current scheme where indexation is applied to the full amount incurred by the student, and not the amount remaining after some has been paid off, was unfair.

Independent member for Wentworth Allegra Spender.
Independent MP Allegra Spender wants HECS repayments revamped to make them fairer.

"We wouldn’t accept a bank charging you interest on a full mortgage when you’ve already paid it down," she told AAP.

The way student debt is repaid could also be a way to ease the financial burden, Mr Clare said. 

Letting people on lower wages pay less in HECS instalment each year could save someone on $75,000 about $1000 in repayments.

Ms Spender has called for the indexation rate to be tied to the lesser of inflation, wages or the government bond rate to ensure profit wasn't being made off student loans.

Universities are also split on a proposal to make education more accessible and equitable through a $10 billion fund to be spent on infrastructure like student housing, classrooms and research facilities.

Public universities and the Commonwealth would both contribute to the fund and while the accord doesn't suggest a specific levy, it says better off universities "with the financial means to pay a higher proportion should be expected to do so”.

Universities Australia Chair David Lloyd defended the fund against suggestions it was a tax on wealthier institutions, saying the peak body's members would welcome it.

"(It's) not positioned as a tax, it's positioned as a co-contribution fund for the future," he said.

While most universities have lauded the report more generally, some of their leaders maintain the future fund would have the opposite effect by stripping money from institutions and making it harder to implement the rest of the accord.

License this article

What is AAPNews?

For the first time, Australian Associated Press is delivering news straight to the consumer.

No ads. No spin. News straight-up.

Not only do you get to enjoy high-quality news delivered straight to your desktop or device, you do so in the knowledge you are supporting media diversity in Australia.

AAP Is Australia’s only independent newswire service, free from political and commercial influence, producing fact-based public interest journalism across a range of topics including politics, courts, sport, finance and entertainment.

What is AAPNews?
The Morning Wire

Wake up to AAPNews’ morning news bulletin delivered straight to your inbox or mobile device, bringing you up to speed with all that has happened overnight at home and abroad, as well as setting you up what the day has in store.

AAPNews Morning Wire
AAPNews Breaking News
Breaking News

Be the first to know when major breaking news happens.


Notifications will be sent to your device whenever a big story breaks, ensuring you are never in the dark when the talking points happen.

Focused Content

Enjoy the best of AAP’s specialised Topics in Focus. AAP has reporters dedicated to bringing you hard news and feature content across a range of specialised topics including Environment, Agriculture, Future Economies, Arts and Refugee Issues.

AAPNews Focussed Content
Subscription Plans

Choose the plan that best fits your needs. AAPNews offers two basic subscriptions, all billed monthly.

Once you sign up, you will have seven days to test out the service before being billed.

AAPNews Full Access Plan
Full Access
AU$10
  • Enjoy all that AAPNews has to offer
  • Access to breaking news notifications and bulletins
  • Includes access to all AAPNews’ specialised topics
Join Now
AAPNews Student Access Plan
Student Access
AU$5
  • Gain access via a verified student email account
  • Enjoy all the benefits of the ‘Full Access’ plan at a reduced rate
  • Subscription renews each month
Join Now
AAPNews Annual Access Plan
Annual Access
AU$99
  • All the benefits of the 'Full Access' subscription at a discounted rate
  • Subscription automatically renews after 12 months
Join Now

AAPNews also offers enterprise deals for businesses so you can provide an AAPNews account for your team, organisation or customers. Click here to contact AAP to sign-up your business today.

SEVEN DAYS FREE
Download the app
Download AAPNews on the App StoreDownload AAPNews on the Google Play Store