Question on Notice & Answer – Timeframes for National Governance Reforms for Higher Education

Meg Webb MLC placed the following Question ON Notice, Tuesday 17th of March 2026, regarding the timeframes for National Governance Reforms for higher education.

The Minister’s Response was provided on the 19th of March 2026.

QUESTION ON NOTICE – ANSWER

Timeframes for National Governance Reforms for Higher Education

[2.48 p.m.]

Ms PALMER (Rosevears – Minister for Education) – Thank you for that indulgence, Madam Deputy President. On Tuesday 17 March, I took a question on notice from the honourable member for Nelson. I committed to get the answer to her this week. She was seeking information on timeframes for national governance reforms occurring to higher education. I have the following information to provide.

The University Accord is complex and is being implemented through a number of separate work streams that cross portfolio boundaries at both a national and jurisdictional level. The most relevant stream to the University of Tasmania Act 1992 is the development of the
University Governance Principles.

In late 2025, Education ministers also considered the recommendations of the senate Inquiry into governance at Australian higher education providers and agreed the importance of strengthening transparency, accountability and diversity in university governance. Education ministers noted the Australian government, with the Commonwealth Remuneration Tribunal, will establish a framework of renumeration classification ranges for Vice Chancellor remuneration, which I understand is expected to be available before the end of this year for
education ministers to consider.

The University Governance Principles implementation plan is currently being prepared by the Australian Government in collaboration with states and territories. The Australian Government is taking a staged approach to the implementation plan with the legislative establishment of the Australian Tertiary Education Commission (ATEC), being subject to parliamentary processes, and discussions around its structure and independence are currently underway.

On 27 February 2026, the Higher Education Standards Panel released a consultation paper on amendments to the threshold standards in response to a request from the Honourable Jason Clare. This includes proposed changes to the principles and transparency requirements. I’m advised this process will advance across 2026, and I anticipate that this will include consideration by Education ministers later in the year.

Given the work occurring across 2026 at a national level, and not wanting to duplicate or pre-empt these reforms, a Tasmanian review of the University of Tasmania Act 1992 is not on the Tasmanian government’s agenda for this year. The government also already has a full legislative agenda across Education, and Children and Youth portfolios, in 2026. My priority this year is on progressing the delivery of commission of inquiry legislative recommendations.

Meg Webb MLC asked a follow-up Question to the answer provided above on Thursday the 19th of March, 2026. 

Timeframes for National Governance Reforms for Higher Education

Ms WEBB question to MINISTER for EDUCATION, Ms PALMER

[2.53 p.m.]

Thank you, Madam Deputy President. This is a follow-up to the answer provided by the minister just a moment ago to the question from the other day. I thank the minister for the information she provided there about the timeframes regarding those national reforms in train. The origin of the question about that was the government has said they won’t respond to our University of Tasmania Act 1992 inquiry report, that has been tabled now for a year or more. Could the minister clarify: Are you saying that the government won’t be responding to that inquiry report of this Chamber until sometime next year, 2027, at the earliest?

ANSWER

Thank you very much, Madam Deputy President. While the Tasmanian government recognises the importance of ensuring the University of Tasmania Act 1992 and the parliamentary inquiries that you speak about, it’s important that the act remains contemporary and aligned with community expectations. But as I have laid out there is also an enormous body of work that is happening nationally. I don’t want to be in a position where we are responding to two Tasmanian parliamentary inquiries, and one national Senate inquiry, and all have made recommendations that do go directly to UTAS governance and its financial position and legislative settings. It is important that the outcomes of these inquiries are fully considered before a response is made. In my previous answer I said that work is happening over 2026. My understanding is that there will be information coming back to education ministers towards the end of 2026 and then I will be in a better position to look at responding appropriately.

Ms Webb – An astonishing delay

The Minister’s response can be viewed below or as a PDF here: