Bill
Universities Accord (National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-based Violence) Bill 2025
lapsed, as at 2025-03-28. Education portfolio.
- Sponsor
- Not recorded
- Portfolio
- Education
Recorded stages
- introduced — 2025-02-06
- second reading — 2025-02-06
- second reading — 2025-02-13
- other — 2025-03-28
Divisions
No divisions recorded. Most questions are decided on the voices; this does not establish that a bill was unopposed.
Plain-language summary
Written by a model from the explanatory memorandum; not the record, as at 2025-02-06.
This bill is part of a package that creates a new regulatory system to reduce gender-based violence in higher education and make providers more accountable, including in student housing.
The minister would set a National Code with binding standards, and a new unit in the Department of Education would monitor compliance, with powers to investigate, issue notices and seek court penalties.
The bill also requires each provider's Vice-Chancellor or equivalent leader to be accountable for compliance and to report regularly to the governing body on incident data and prevention efforts.
- Establishes a new regulatory framework for preventing and responding to gender-based violence in higher education.
- Gives the minister power to make a National Code as a legislative instrument.
- Creates a specialist gender-based violence unit within the Department of Education.
- Gives the Secretary monitoring, investigation and enforcement powers including compliance notices, infringement notices and civil penalties.
- Requires providers to develop a Gender Equality Action Plan and Gender Impact Assessments.
- Requires providers to have trauma-informed policies and procedures and appropriately skilled staff.
Higher education providers, their staff and students, and the Department of Education.
Sources
em
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