Clare addressed stakeholders in Canberra on February 25, reflecting on the government’s recent policy decisions and outlining key pledges should his party secure victory in the upcoming election.
Australians will go to the polls for the next federal election within the next three months, although the exact date has yet to be confirmed.
“We are now on the cusp of a federal election. And so, I think it is probably appropriate to talk tonight about where we have come over the last few years, and what comes next. I think you know me now and what drives me,” said Clare.
He noted that although Australia has a “good education system”, he believes it can be “a lot better and a lot fairer” – two goals he stressed he wanted to achieve.
Clare told the sector that while the Accord had recommended a funding pot to which universities would have to contribute based on their revenue, the Albanese government had decided against this.
“I proposed a cap. The Liberal Party opted not to do that. So instead, we have got rid of Ministerial Direction 107 and replaced it with something else.
“Something that is better and fairer. Something that makes sure it’s not just the big universities that get the benefit of international education,” said Clare, referencing new study visa processing directive Ministerial Direction 111, which was introduced in December 2024.
Last year, Labor’s proposed cap on international enrolments threw the sector into turmoil. Widely criticised for its timeline, methodology, and implementation strategy, the policy dominated headlines and forced institutions to impose enrolment limits while others halted recruitment – even though the legislation never passed. The uncertainty led to financial strain, job losses, and, for some providers, complete closure.
Tied to the individual provider caps previously assigned to institutions under the government’s derailed cap on enrolments, the new directive sees departmental officials prioritising student visas for each provider until they reach 80% of their cap, also known as their net overseas student commencement number.
I get how contentious this is, how important this revenue is. But it is not the main game
Jason Clare, education minister
“I get how contentious this is, how important this revenue is. But it is not the main game. What I am focused on, what I want all of us to focus on, is how we build the sort of education system that Australia needs, that Australians need,” said Clare.
Elsewhere, Clare made promises regarding the Australian Tertiary Education Commission (ATEC) – a Labor commitment to create an independent body for the higher education system, tasked with creating a “better and fairer tertiary education system that delivers for students and on national economic and social objectives”.
“If we win the election, I will introduce legislation in the second half of this year to formally establish the ATEC and I want it fully operational by this time next year,” he pledged. “But I can announce tonight the team I have appointed to get it up and running on an interim basis from July 1 this year.”
Clare announced Mary O’Kane as the interim chief commissioner of the ATEC. O’Kane, who led the Universities Accord review, will be supported by two members of the Accord panel – Barney Glover, now commissioner of jobs and skills Australia, and Larissa Behrendt, laureate fellow at the Jumbunna Institute of Indigenous Education and Research at the University of Technology, Sydney.
Commenting on the appointment, Universities Australia CEO Luke Sheehy said: “Professor Mary O’Kane provided us with a blueprint for how we can reform higher education – it makes sense that she helps bring it to life.
“The ATEC has a critical role to play in providing independent advice to government and driving sector reform to ensure our universities have the settings and support they need to thrive,” said Sheehy.
“The government has made good progress in implementing some of the recommendations of the Universities Accord, but there is a lot of heavy lifting still to do.”
As the federal election nears, Universities Australia is calling upon a future government to “be bold and and ambitious in its support of Australia’s universities”.
“What Australia’s universities do matters to all of us, and we’re ready to partner with the next federal government to continue building Australia’s future.”
Universities Australia is urging government to grow the country’s international education sector “sustainably, without reducing its size or value.” The organisation is pushing for offshore delivery expansion and advocating for a government that will collaborate with universities to develop a new international education strategy.
Leader of the Opposition, Peter Dutton, has previously set out his party’s intention to cap international student numbers and cut migration.
The Coalition promises – if elected – to reduce the country’s permanent migration intake by 25% and looks to shrink the number of international students studying at metropolitan universities.
The post UA Summit: Clare addresses universities as election looms appeared first on The PIE News.