Policy & Submissions

Australian universities are a key national resource. Unlike physical resources, they provide limitless potential through the generation of ideas that enable society and the economy to continuously improve. Universities also provide our graduates with the education and skills to navigate not just the challenges of the present but the unknowns of the future.

Universities Australia (UA) welcomes the opportunity to make a submission to the Protecting Critical Infrastructure and Systems of National Significance consultation.

Universities Australia welcomes the opportunity to comment on the Independent Hospital Pricing Authority’s (IHPA) Consultation Paper on the Pricing Framework for Australian Public Hospital Services 2021–22.

Universities Australia strongly advocates that the Australian Government consider a coordinated approach to identifying and managing the risk of foreign interference in Australian universities. We are concerned the Bill is not proportionate to risk and would impose an onerous administrative impost on universities and on the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

Universities Australia welcomes the opportunity to make a submission to the Committee’s inquiry into the Higher Education Support Amendment (Job-ready Graduates and Supporting Regional and Remote Students) Bill 2020.

Universities Australia (UA) welcomes the opportunity to make this submission in advance of the Government’s 2020-21 Budget to be delivered in October. UA is the peak body for the university sector, representing Australia’s 39 comprehensive universities. Universities Australia’s members educate more than 1.4 million students and conduct research and development on behalf of the nation. Now, more than ever, Australia’s universities are central to our wellbeing and prosperity, as they help guide our response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Universities Australia (UA) welcomes this opportunity to make a submission to the House Standing Committee on Social Policy and Legal Affairs’ inquiry into family, domestic and sexual violence.

Universities Australia (UA) welcomes the opportunity to comment on the draft Higher Education Support Amendment (Job-Ready Graduates and Supporting Regional and Remote Students) Bill 2020 (the Bill).

Universities Australia made a submission to the Senate Select Committee on COVID-19’s inquiry into the Australian Government’s response to COVID-19 and related matters.

Universities Australia has responded to the Higher Education Standards Panel’s discussion paper on amending the Provider Category Standards.

Universities Australia welcomes the opportunity to make a submission to the inquiry into the Treasury Laws Amendment (Research and Development Tax Incentive) Bill 2019 (the Bill). Universities Australia is the peak body for Australia’s 39 comprehensive universities, which educate more than a million students and undertake research for the national benefit.

Universities Australia (UA) is pleased to make a submission to the House Standing Committee on Indigenous Affairs inquiry into opportunities for employment and economic development for Indigenous Australians.

Universities Australia (UA) welcomes the opportunity to make a submission to the Joint Committee of Public Accounts and Audit inquiry into matters contained and associated with the Auditor-General’s report No. 5 (2019-20)

VET has been subject to significant pressures following many years of funding cuts of State and Federal Governments and unsuccessful policy experiments.

Universities Australia supports the Government’s aim to realise the full potential of public sector data to the benefit of all Australians.

Universities are both affected by cyber security and are active participants in managing the national response to cyber security readiness.

Australian science is recognised for its excellence both internationally and domestically, whether measured by the number of Nobel prizes per capita or by the impact of our scientific publications.

UA is the peak body for Australia’s 39 comprehensive universities. We have a keen interest in how senior secondary schooling presents information to students about their options for future education, training and work.

Universities play a major role in the formation of Australia’s entry-level health professional workforce and are well positioned to work in partnership with aged services to contribute to relevant workforce development.

Universities Australia (UA) welcomes the opportunity to provide input into the review of the “Inherent Requirements for Studying Medicine in Australia and New Zealand” document (the document). The review is being undertaken by the Medical Deans of Australia and New Zealand (MDANZ) who developed the document in 2017. The aim of the document is to support medical schools to offer the greatest access for students with a disability while ensuring safe clinical education and training. To assist in this, the document provides a set of guidelines which medical schools may choose to incorporate into their local practices. The guidelines are not mandatory.

As the peak body representing Australia’s 39 comprehensive universities, Universities Australia (UA) welcomes the opportunity to comment on the Australian Council of Learned Academies (ACOLA) project: ‘Enhancing research outcomes from Australia’s regional, rural and remote (RRR) universities’.

Universities Australia (UA) welcomes the opportunity to make a submission to the Senate Select
Committee’s inquiry into jobs for the future in regional areas.

Universities Australia welcomes the opportunity to make a submission to the Committee on the Emergency Response Fund Bill 2019 and the Emergency Response Fund (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2019. Universities Australia is the peak body representing Australia’s 39 comprehensive universities in the national interest. A number of our members have also made submissions and we commend these to you for consideration.

Universities Australia (UA) welcomes the opportunity to provide feedback on the current risk assessment framework (RAF) used by the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA) to inform its regulatory activities.

Universities Australia welcomes the opportunity to make a submission in this next phase of the review of the Defence Trade Controls Act 2012. Universities Australia is the peak body for Australia’s 39 comprehensive universities, which educate more than a million students and undertake research to add to the stock of advanced knowledge.

Universities Australia (UA) welcomes the opportunity to make submission to the Royal Commission into Aged-care Quality and Safety. UA is the peak national body representing Australia’s thirty-nine comprehensive universities. UA has a keen interest in aged-care workforce policy and the way in which universities can support healthy, positive ageing. UA previously made submissions to the Aged-care Workforce Strategy Taskforce. UA is also represented on the current Aged Services Industry Reference Committee (IRC) and its Tertiary Education and Pathways Sub-Committee.

Universities Australia (UA) welcomes the opportunity to provide a submission to the Senate Community Affairs References Committee inquiry into the adequacy of Newstart and related payments and alternative mechanisms to determine the level of income support payments in Australia.

Universities Australia (UA) is the national peak body representing Australia’s thirty-nine comprehensive universities.

The university sector is committed to educating our future health workforce as a fundamental component of Australia’s health system. Universities offer multiple health courses and educate the majority of health professionals in Australia. Of this workforce, more than 200,000 – or over a quarter – are allied health professionals (AHPs)i. Allied health professionals play a major role in the prevention, treatment and management of ill-health across multiple sectors, both as individual, autonomous clinicians and as part of multidisciplinary health teams.

Universities Australia (UA) welcomes the opportunity to comment on the draft Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Amendment (Prohibiting Academic Cheating Services) Bill 2019.

Universities Australia welcomes the opportunity to make a submission to the Review of Australia’s science and research priorities, as they apply to the Australian Research Council’s (ARC) National Competitive Grants Program (NCGP). We are mindful of the targeted nature of the review, with its focus on the implementation of the priorities and associated Practical Research Challenges.

The Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Strategy Group (Strategy Group)1, convened by the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) and the National Health Leadership Forum (NHLF) are consulting on a proposed definition of “cultural safety”. The intent is to develop an agreed, national baseline definition that can be used as a foundation for embedding cultural safety across all functions in the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme (NRAS) and for use by the NHLF.

Universities Australia (UA) welcomes the opportunity to comment on the COAG Health Council’s recent consultation paper: Australia’s Health Workforce: strengthening the education foundation.

Universities Australia (UA) welcomes the opportunity to make a submission in response to the discussion paper on the Review of the Australian Qualifications Framework (AQF).

UA welcomes the opportunity to make a submission to the Review of Provider Category Standards (PCS).

Universities Australia welcomes the Higher Education Standards Panel’s (HESP’s) advice on enhancing academic integrity and combatting contract cheating, as well as the Government’s response to this advice.

Australian universities provide high-quality, accessible education to 1.4 million students each year, lead Australia’s research efforts and are a major contributor to the social and economic wellbeing of our country.

As the peak body for Australia’s 39 comprehensive universities, Universities Australia acknowledges the need for more clarity and certainty regarding the allocation of Commonwealth supported places (CSPs) for enabling, sub-bachelor and postgraduate places. The higher education sector will operate in a more efficient and more effective way if allocations of places are aligned with demand.

As the peak body representing Australia’s 39 comprehensive universities, Universities Australia welcomes the opportunity to respond to the Regional Education Expert Advisory Group’s National Regional, Rural and Remote Education Strategy Framing Paper.

As the peak body representing Australia’s 39 comprehensive universities, Universities Australia welcomes the opportunity to provide feedback on Australia’s 2019-20 Migration Program to the Department of Home Affairs. Australia’s universities employ highly skilled staff from around the world and are the educators of our future workforce. Universities Australia is invested in our migration program to enable our universities to produce work-ready graduates and world-leading research.

In a time of rapid global change, many nations are looking to invest in sectors that will build social and economic opportunity for their citizens – recognising that opportunity and advancement are key to social cohesion and progress.

Universities Australia (UA) welcomes the opportunity to comment on the current expert review of Australia’s Vocational Education and Training (VET) system. UA recognises the importance of a robust, reputable VET system for Australia’s future. VET offers training and practical skills that equip Australian’s for immediate entry into the workforce. Higher education offers students the academic, analytical and technical skills required for long-term professional and academic careers. Both are critical to Australia’s economic and social wellbeing.

Universities Australia welcomes the opportunity to respond to the Council for International
Education’s consultation paper on Growing International Education in Regional Australia.
This submission represents a broad sectoral view of the issues.

Universities Australia (UA) supports the proposal for a common framework of key principles, criteria and learning outcomes for safe and effective use of medicines by entry-level practitioners in regulated health professions.

Framework for accreditation requirements for the safe and effective use of medicines: Response to consultation questions

Universities Australia (UA) welcomes the opportunity to make a submission to the Senate Education and Employment Legislation Committee’s enquiry into the Higher Education Support (Charges) Bill 2018 and Higher Education Support Amendment (Cost Recovery) Bill 2018.

Universities Australia (UA) is pleased to make a submission to the post-implementation review of the Indigenous Student Success Program (ISSP). UA welcomes the Government’s review of the implementation of the ISSP, and the opportunity it provides both to identify problems or barriers, as well as to make further improvements to the design and effectiveness of the program.

Universities Australia supports further health services and translation research that, whilst building on some of the work already undertaken in the 2016 – 2018 priority areas, would be a research area in its own right. This is detailed further in UA’s response to questions eight and nine below.

Universities Australia (UA) welcomes the opportunity to make a submission to the Independent Review of the Australian Public Service (APS). The review is examining how the APS can assist government to manage and respond to future challenges in increasingly complex and digitally enabled global economies. A key goal is a fit-for-purpose APS to drive innovative, efficient policy development and implementation through collaborative, whole-of government approaches.

Universities Australia is pleased to provide this response to the Copyright Modernisation Review consultation paper.

Universities Australia appreciates the opportunity to comment on the exposure draft of the Copyright Amendment (Service Providers) Regulations 2018 (the Draft Regulations).

Universities Australia welcomes the opportunity to make a supplementary submission to the Review of the Defence Trade Controls Act 2012. Universities Australia is the peak body for Australia’s 39 comprehensive universities, which educate more than a million students and undertake research to add to the stock of advanced knowledge.
Universities Australia wishes to express serious concerns regarding matters raised in the submissions from the Department of Defence and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade/Austrade.

Universities Australia (UA) welcomes the opportunity to make a submission to the Independent Review of the Australian Public Service (APS). The review is examining how the APS can assist government to manage and respond to future challenges in increasingly complex and digitally enabled global economies. A key goal is a fit-for-purpose APS to drive innovative, efficient policy development and implementation through collaborative, whole-of government approaches.

Universities Australia welcomes the opportunity to make a supplementary submission to the Review of the Defence Trade Controls Act 2012. Universities Australia is the peak body for Australia’s 39 comprehensive universities, which educate more than a million students and undertake research to add to the stock of advanced knowledge.

Universities Australia welcomes the opportunity to make a submission to the House of Representatives’ Standing Committee on Employment, Education and Training’s inquiry into research funding. Universities Australia is the peak body for Australia’s 39 comprehensive universities, which educate more than a million students and undertake research to add to the stock of advanced knowledge.

Inquiry into the effectiveness of the current temporary skilled visa system in targeting genuine skills shortages

Thank you for the opportunity to provide input into the review.

Universities Australia (UA) is the peak body representing Australia’s 39 comprehensive universities in the national interest.

Thank you for the opportunity for Universities Australia (UA) to provide input into the Australian Health and Hospital Association’s (AHHA) consultation on the Allied Health Rural Generalist (AHRG) Education Program Accreditation System.

Universities Australia is pleased to provide this submission to the Department of Education and Training on the implementation of the Government’s Regional Study Hubs Initiative.

Thank you for the opportunity for Universities Australia (UA) to make submission to the Aged-Care Workforce Strategy Taskforce (ACWST). UA’s interest in aged-care is particularly in the education and training of health professionals – doctors, nurses, dentists, pharmacists and allied health professionals – who work with older Australians.

Universities Australia is pleased to have this opportunity to comment on the draft report of the Review of Code of Conduct for Australian Copyright Collecting Societies (Draft Report).

Universities Australia welcomes the opportunity to make a submission to the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters inquiry into the Electoral Legislation Amendment (Electoral Funding and Disclosure Reform) Bill 2017. Universities Australia is the peak body for Australia’s 39 comprehensive universities, which educate more than a million students and undertake research to add to the stock of advanced knowledge that has been valued at more than $160 billion.

Universities Australia welcomes the opportunity to make a submission to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security inquiry into the Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme Bill 2017. Universities Australia is the peak body for Australia’s 39 comprehensive universities, which educate more than a million students and undertake research to add to the stock of advanced knowledge, and has been valued at more than $160 billion.

Universities Australia welcomes the opportunity to make a submission to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security inquiry into the Foreign Influence Transparency Scheme Bill 2017.

Migration Amendment (Skilling Australians Fund) Bill 2017 and the Migration (Skilling Australian Fund) Charges Bill 2017

Migration Amendment (Skilling Australians Fund) Bill 2017 and the Migration (Skilling Australiangs Fund) Charges Bill 2017

High quality tertiary education and training is more important to Australia than ever before. The industries and jobs of the future will depend increasingly on innovation and skills. Improving productivity will be vital to maintain our prosperity and standard of living. A greater share of our population will need to be equipped with the adaptable, transferrable skills that are shaped by high quality post-school learning.

Budgets tell a story about priorities. When Governments announce increases or cuts in revenue and spending, they send a signal to voters and the nation about what matters most to them.

Thank you for the opportunity to provide further feedback on the Draft Engagement and Impact 2018 Submission Guidelines.

Universities Australia welcomes the opportunity to provide input to the Department of Employment’s review of the methodology for the 2017 review of the Skilled Migration Occupation List.

Universities Australia welcomes the opportunity to respond to the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Accreditation Council’s (ANMAC’s) discussion paper regarding the review of Registered Nurse Accreditation Standards.

Universities Australia welcomes the opportunity to respond to the Consultation Paper on demand-driven sub-Bachelor places released by the Department of Education and Training (DET).

Senator Hume: The data I have in front of me says that between 2011 and 2013 the EIF revenue constituted only 14 per cent of university infrastructure expenditure and between 2012 and 14 it constituted 10 per cent. So if you have updated data on what proportion of university infrastructure expenditure the EIF actually maintains after that that would be terrific.

Universities Australia agrees with the Productivity Commission that there is a need to strengthen the governance and transparency arrangements that apply to declared collecting societies.

The UA submission broadly supports many of the recommendations posed in the draft report including options for reducing duplication in accreditation processes across health professions as well as between TEQSA, ASQA and NRAS; greater consistency and transparency around accreditation fees; and opportunity for better linking evidence and future workforce priorities with pedagogic innovation.

Universities Australia welcomes the opportunity to respond to the Independent Hospital Pricing Authority’s (IHPA’s) consultation paper on the Development of the Australian Teaching and Training Classification (ATTC). Universities Australia understands that the ATTC is foundational to the development of activity based funding for teaching and training activities in public hospitals, a process which is intended to bring greater efficiency, transparency, equity and accountability to Australian public hospital teaching and training funding.

Universities Australia is the peak body representing Australia’s 39 comprehensive universities in the national interest. We welcome the opportunity to provide input to the Department of Immigration and Border Protection’s process of simplifying Australia’s visa system. This submission complements those made by individual universities and university groups, which reflect their own particular circumstances and shared perspectives.

Universities Australia welcomes the opportunity to make a submission to the Committee on the Medicare Levy Amendment (National Disability Insurance Scheme Funding) Bill 2017 and 10 related Bills. Universities Australia is the peak body representing Australia’s 39 comprehensive universities in the national interest. A number of our members have also made submissions and we commend these to you for consideration.

Universities Australia (UA) welcomes the opportunity to respond to the Independent Review into Regional, Rural and Remote Education discussion paper.

UA’s submission represents a whole-of-sector view on the issues raised in the paper. Individual UA member universities and other groupings may make their own more detailed and we commend these to you.

Senate Education and Employment Legislation Committee
Enquiry into the Higher Education Support Legislation Amendment (A More Sustainable, Responsive and Transparent Higher Education System) Bill 2017
Hearing at Wodonga, Vic., Tuesday, 25 July 2017

Universities Australia (UA) is pleased to make this supplementary submission to the Senate Education and Employment Legislation Committee’s inquiry into the Higher Education Support Legislation Amendment (A More Sustainable, Responsive and Transparent Higher Education System) Bill 2017.

Universities Australia is the peak national body representing Australia’s 39 comprehensive universities in the national interest.
The Government has brought forward the Higher Educational Support Legislation Amendment (A More Sustainable, Responsive and Transparent Higher Education System) Bill 2017 to make policy changes— including changes to funding—in the higher education sector.

Universities Australia (UA) welcomes the opportunity to make a submission in response to the draft Program Guidelines on the Rural and Regional Enterprise Scholarships program.

Universities Australia thanks Innovation and Science Australia for the opportunity to provide input into their 2030 Strategic Plan.

I write on behalf of Universities Australia’s (UA), the national peak body for Australian universities, regarding IHPA’s draft work program 2017-18. Universities have a keen interest in IHPA’s work given the role universities play in training our future health professional workforce and the compulsory requirement for all entry level health professionals to undertake clinical training, the majority of which occurs in public hospitals.

In December 2017, the Australian Government announced measures in Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook to freeze per-student funding to universities at 2017 levels. This would reduce funding to Australian universities by $2.1 billion over the forward estimates.

University funding is complex. As a result, the sector’s true financial position is not always well understood in public discussion.

Universities Australia (UA) welcomes the opportunity to make submission to the Independent Review of Accreditation Systems within the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme (NRAS) for Health Professionals (“the Review”). UA understands that the Review and its associated discussion paper focuses on three main areas: improving efficiency; relevance and responsiveness and; future health workforce development. UA has responded to the discussion questions posed under each of these areas where applicable to universities and also provided further information where relevant.

Universities Australia (UA) thanks TEQSA for the opportunity to provide comment on its proposed changes to the publication of TEQSA’s decisions.

Universities Australia welcomes the opportunity to provide input to the development of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Foreign Policy White Paper.

Universities Australia is the peak body representing Australia’s 39 comprehensive universities in the national interest. We welcome the opportunity to provide feedback on the Department of Home Affairs’ discussion paper “Managing Australia’s Migrant Intake” issued as a part of the department’s annual consultation on Australia’s migration program.

Thank you for the invitation to respond to the Department of Health’s Medical Workforce Assessment and associated Discussion Paper. We understand the assessment has a particular
focus on where and how medical school/entry level training1 occurs and the link between this and future medical workforce distribution, especially to regional, rural and remote areas.

Inquiry into the Copyright Amendment (service Providers) Bill 2017

Electoral Legislation Amendment (Electoral Funding and Disclosure Reform) Bill 2017
Universities Australia welcomes the opportunity to make a submission to the Joint Standing Committee on Electoral Matters inquiry into the Electoral Legislation Amendment (Electoral Funding and Disclosure Reform) Bill 2017. Universities Australia is the peak body for Australia’s 39 comprehensive universities, which educate more than a million students and undertake research to add to the stock of advanced knowledge that has been valued at more than $160 billion.

A profound shift is underway across the Australian economy.

Government investment in first class research infrastructure is vital to the long-term sustainability of Australia’s research program, driving innovation, economic productivity and social benefits for the nation. National research facilities are built and maintained for the public good. As such there is a fundamental role for government in investing in this critical infrastructure.

Dear Ms Radcliffe

I am writing following Senator Stirling Griff’s request that Universities Australia (UA) provide a submission to the Committee’s inquiry into the medical complaints process in Australia. UA would like to take this opportunity to respond to some of the issues that have been raised in other submissions and the public hearing.

Universities Australia (UA) thanks the Productivity Commission for the opportunity to provide feedback to the Draft Report on Data Availability and Use. As UA noted in our submission to the issues paper, universities play an essential role in driving Australia’s open data agenda through their research programs, as producers and users of vast amounts of data in their own right, and as educators of Australia’s data analysts and data scientists.

Universities Australia (UA) is pleased to make this submission to the review of the impact of the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011 (‘TEQSA Act’) on the higher education sector (‘the Review’).

We write on behalf of Universities Australia’s (UA) – the national peak body for Australian universities. Universities play a key role in educating and training our future health professionals. Such education currently comprises sixteen per cent of all university student enrolments . UA undertakes a health policy and advocacy role to support the sector in this work and is advised in this activity by two main groups: the Health Professionals’ Education Standing Group (HPESG) which provides discipline-specific health professional education advice; and a jurisdictional Health Education Workforce Group (HEWG) which injects state and territory views into clinical training and related matters.

Universities Australia (UA) welcomes the opportunity to respond to the Productivity Commission’s draft report on the education evidence base. Universities are at the forefront of Australia’s effort to build an education evidence base and affirm Australia’s position as a highly innovative and educated nation.

Universities Australia welcomes the opportunity to provide input to the proposed changes to the 2017 Annual Information Statement (AIS).

Universities Australia does not oppose the moderate reduction in the minimum repayment income for HELP debts, with lower repayment rates below existing threshold (Schedule 1), aimed at assuring the viability and sustainably of HELP scheme.

The Higher Education Partnerships and Participation Program (HEPPP) is an effective initiative. It has helped drive an historic increase in university participation by people from low SES backgrounds and other under-represented groups.

The case for a review of the health and medical research funding scheme is well-articulated in the issues paper.

The Government’s options paper provides broad and comprehensive coverage of the key higher education policy challenges associated with maintaining an accessible, high quality mass higher education system, against a backdrop of budget restraint.

Universities play an essential role in driving Australia’s open data agenda through their research programs, as producers and users of vast amounts of data in their own right, and as educators of Australia’s data analysts and data scientists.

Governments, universities and businesses have identified Australia’s low levels of collaboration between industry and university researchers as a major barrier to Australia’s successful transition to an innovation nation. The national assessment for university research engagement and impact is an important initiative for encouraging universities to better engage with business and other end-users including small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), the not-for-profit sector, governments and community organisations.

Universities Australia (UA) welcomes the opportunity to make submission to the Independent Review of Accreditation Systems within the National Registration and Accreditation Scheme (NRAS) for Health Professionals (“the Review”). UA understands that the Review and its associated discussion paper focuses on three main areas: improving efficiency; relevance and responsiveness and; future health workforce development. UA has responded to the discussion questions posed under each of these areas where applicable to universities and also provided further information where relevant.

Universities Australia – the national peak body for Australian universities – convened HPESG as a policy forum through which to progress cross portfolio health and higher education matters, chief amongst which is clinical education and training. The group comprises senior leaders across all health professional disciplines. Further information about HPESG is attached.

The Medical Research Future Fund (MRFF) is a significant and welcomed new investment in health and medical research that will deliver invaluable health benefits to the Australian population and enhance the commercial opportunities arising from Australia’s research.

In line with the stated aims of Government to promote the transition to an innovative knowledge based economy as outlined in the recent National Innovation and Science Agenda, universities rely heavily on the latest technology for teaching, learning and research.

Universities Australia supports the objective of the Minister and the Higher Education Standards Panel (the Panel) to improve transparency without increasing red tape for universities, and appreciates the opportunity to contribute to the process for doing so. We note that improving information for students and parents on higher education options has bi-partisan political support.

Our universities recognise that domestic violence and gender inequality is a significant social issue and that all parts of the community need to take action to reduce and eliminate violence against women and gender inequality. Over many years—both individually and collectively—Australia’s universities have implemented numerous policies, programs and processes to ensure the safety of the university community.

Australia is experiencing a period of profound economic and social change occurring at a rate not seen since the industrial revolution. The new knowledge economy requires unprecedented economic and labour market agility. It is estimated that 40 per cent of existing jobs are likely to disappear in the next 10–15 years.1 The challenge is to ensure that these are replaced with jobs that emerge from reconfigured and new industries, as well as through the creation of new and innovative ideas.

Universities play an essential role in driving Australia’s international competitiveness and productive capability. Effective investment in the university sector is critical to building and maintaining goodwill, trade and investment. Australian universities are also the major providers of education services to international students, an $18 billion export industry. Universities provide skilled graduates, underpin our research and innovation efforts, and are the cornerstone in delivering education services internationally.

Australian universities are critical to our national economic infrastructure. They deliver excellence in teaching, scholarship, research and innovation; support regional economies and communities; transform lives through educational opportunity and research; and have been at the forefront of Australia’s ‘soft diplomacy’ agenda through the delivery of international education and research collaboration.

Australia is experiencing significant economic and social change. We are entering a new era in which skills, knowledge and ideas will become our most precious commodities. Successfully navigating these changes will require Australian businesses and research organisations to work in partnership to create the new products, processes and industries needed to secure Australia’s future economic prosperity.

Universities Australia made a submission in response to the Australian Law Reform Commission (ALRC) discussion paper on Copyright and the Digital Economy in August 2013.