A new ombudsman has also been created to handle campus safety complaints.
The new bill will directly levie the university and its leadership for the prevention and response to gender-based violence.
The University Agreement (National Higher Education Code to Prevent and Respond to Gender-Based Violence) Bill 2025 requires higher providers to implement and report measures deployed to tackle higher violence and harassment.
“We guarantee that the Deputy Prime Minister and CEO will develop an organization-wide plan and report it to the governing body every six months. February 6th.
New Ombudsman with Royal Commission authority
The introduction of the bill comes days after the launch of the National Student Ombudsman, an independent institution with similar authority to the Royal Commission.
The new institution, led by Sarah Bendall and Commonwealth Ombudsman Iain Anderson, will investigate complaints, including recent issues regarding anti-Semitism.
“This gives the Ombudsman’s real teeth findings and recommendations,” Claire said.
The university must implement recommendations from the ombudsman.
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Australian Education Minister Jason Claire will speak at the Australian University Conference Dinner held at the Capitol in Canberra, Australia on February 22, 2023. AAP Image/Mick Tsikas
Focus on campus living
The proposed bill requires university staff and students to respond appropriately to gender-based violence, prohibits non-disclosure agreements unless requested by the victim’s presence, and the policy is valid for universities. They require that you report on sex.
Student accommodations (whether they are affiliated with the university) must also meet new safety standards, but this will also be extended to third-party providers.
“University isn’t just a place where people learn, for a lot of students, that’s where they live,” Claire said.
Penalties for non-compliance violations
The government said the bill was created in consultation with victims and existing advocates, students and gender-based violence experts.
A new gender-based violence unit will be established within the Ministry of Education to support compliance.
This unit has important authority, including its ability to issue compliance notices, impose civil penalties and implement recommendations by the ombudsman.
“This gives them the ability to measure changes their policies are securing, inform compliance, ensure accountability and contribute to the national evidence base,” Claire said.
The report highlights underreporting sexual violence
A recent report commissioned by the University of Australia reports the prevalence of sexual assault and harassment on campus, with one in 20 (4.5%) having been sexually assaulted since starting university. It has been revealed that.
Meanwhile, in the National Student Safety Survey, 48% of students experience sexual harassment at least once in their lifetime, with one in six (16%) reporting such incidents since they began the study. I understand that.
However, only 5.6% of students who have experienced sexual assault, and 3% of students who faced harassment filed formal complaints with the university, both lower numbers than in 2016.
The situation is further exacerbated by student complaints about the process.
Only 29.7% of people who reported sexual assault in 2021 were happy with the university’s response, with 41.3% of people who reported harassment being slightly higher.
The report also revealed that more than half of the students surveyed were unfamiliar with the university’s policies regarding sexual assault and harassment, and that most people didn’t know where to seek support or support.
