Australia’s Education and Employment Senate Committee has recommended that the Education Legislation Amendment (Integrity and Other Measures) Bill 2025 – a wide-ranging package of education reforms – be passed, despite concerns from stakeholders and additional comments from the Australian Greens calling for limits on ministerial powers.
While the Committee has endorsed the Bill, it still needs to make its way through the Senate before it can become legislation.
The Bill proposes amendments across several key acts within education, including the Education Services for Overseas Students Act (ESOS). According to government, the reforms aim to strengthen the quality, integrity and long-term sustainability of Australia’s education system, particularly the international education sector.
The committee launched its inquiry with a public call for submissions and accepted and published 47 submissions. Contributors included universities, organisations and peak bodies from all parts of the sector, including the Group of Eight (Go8), Universities Australia, and the Innovative Research Universities (IRU).
“There were aspects of the bill that attracted reservations from some submitters,” the Committee noted, citing concerns about changes to the definition of an education agent and whether ministerial intervention powers were appropriately balanced.
One of the most significant points of concern related to new ministerial powers over provider and course registrations. The Bill would allow the minister to make legislative instruments suspending the processing of applications for provider registration – or registration of new courses – for periods of up to 12 months.
Some submitters argued that the bill lacked clarity about the criteria governing such decisions. The committee acknowledged these concerns but said it understood the powers would only be exercised in limited circumstances where sector integrity or sustainability was at risk.
“While the committee appreciates the concerns, it is of the view that the provision is appropriate given the integrity risks of unethical providers using their registration for non-genuine purposes,” the report stated.
While the committee appreciates the concerns, it is of the view that the provision is appropriate given the integrity risks of unethical providers using their registration for non-genuine purposes
Education and Employment Senate Committee
The Australian Greens provided additional comments in the report, urging that the Bill be amended to remove the expanded ministerial powers over applications, registrations and courses.
“Providing additional unconstrained ministerial powers to unilaterally suspend or cancel ‘classes of courses’ is a concerning overreach,” wrote Senator Mehreen Faruqi, deputy leader of the Australian Greens.
And despite the concerns raised in the submissions, the Committee concluded that the Bill represents “an important step in strengthening the quality, integrity and sustainability” of Australia’s education system.
It highlighted measures such as uncapped medical student places for First Nations students and stronger data collection mechanisms in early childhood education as particularly positive reforms that would improve equity and access.
Following the government’s unsuccessful attempt in 2024 to pass similar integrity reforms, minister for education Jason Clare reintroduced the legislation aimed at “strengthening the integrity of the international education sector”.
The Bill currently making its way through parliament closely mirrors last year’s version but drops the proposed hard cap on international student enrolments that contributed to the earlier Bill’s failure in parliament. Instead, the government is managing new enrolments through its National Planning Level, a de facto cap that sets target limits for providers.
