Parliament has today taken an important step towards ensuring Australia has the university graduates it needs.
Universities Australia welcomes today’s passage of the Universities Accord (Opening the Doors of Opportunity) Bill 2026, strengthened by amendments secured following sector advocacy.
The Bill lays the foundations for expanding university opportunity, but delivering on that ambition will require ongoing and expanded funding for growth in places, said Universities Australia Chief Executive Officer Luke Sheehy.
“Australia needs more people going to university.
“The Accord made clear that by 2050, 80 per cent of working-age Australians will need a tertiary qualification, up from around 60 per cent today.
“We’ve always supported the ambition behind this Bill, and we pushed for changes to make it stronger.
“These changes provide greater certainty that existing student places will be protected, establish a floor under the total pool of places and strengthen safeguards for university autonomy. I thank the Government, Coalition and the Greens for working constructively together to improve this Bill.”
Passing the Bill is an important milestone, but the focus must now shift to funding the places needed to meet Australia’s future skills needs, Mr Sheehy said.
“Opening the door is important. But doors only create opportunity if people can walk through them.
“If we want more teachers, nurses, engineers and other skilled workers, we need more funded university places.
“The ambition of the Accord can only be realised if growth is matched with funding.
“More opportunity is good for students, good for communities and good for the economy.”
