19th Oct 2023, 1:34 PM – Senate Higher Education Support Amendment (Response to the Australian Universities Accord Interim Report) Bill 2023 - Second Reading - Make university and TAFE fee-free

The majority voted against an amendment to the usual second reading motion introduced by NSW Senator Mehreen Faruqi (Greens), which means it failed. The usual second reading motion is "that the bill be read a second time", which is parliamentary jargon for agreeing with the main idea of the bill.

Motion text

At the end of the motion, add ", but the Senate calls on the Government to:

(a) make university and TAFE fee-free for all;

(b) wipe all student debt;

(c) pay students for undertaking mandatory vocational placements;

(d) raise PhD student stipends, and provide paid parental leave to PhD students;

(e) establish independent oversight of universities' actions to end sexual violence, and impose consequences on universities that fail to keep staff and students safe; and

(f) ensure university staff are in secure jobs and paid fair wages."