Response to the Universities Accord (Opening the Doors of Opportunity) Bill 2026 Consultation Paper

This submission responds to the consultation paper on the Universities Accord (Opening the Doors of Opportunity) Bill 2026, which aims to expand access to higher education as part of implementing the Australian Universities Accord. Research Australia supports the Bill but maintains that the Accord’s vision requires equal attention to research capability, drawing on the seven priority areas of its workforce policy discussion paper. It recommends that the Australian Tertiary Education Commission (ATEC) explicitly consider research capability when planning tertiary capacity, with stronger pathways into clinician-researcher careers and a pipeline approach to workforce planning from school onwards. On equity, it recommends action on systemic discrimination aligned with Closing the Gap, Australia’s Disability Strategy and its Women’s Health Research Roadmap, and notes that only 13% of the health and medical research workforce lives in regional or remote areas, compared with 27% of the population. It proposes place-based initiatives, support for mobility between metropolitan and regional areas, and population-based workforce planning, and recommends clear pathways into honours, higher degrees by research and clinician-research careers, citing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people’s 0.5% share of university STEM staff against 3.4% of the population, and gender gaps in NHMRC funding. It warns that a lower National Planning Level for international students could reduce university revenue for research, recommends a monitoring and evaluation framework that includes research outcomes, and recommends implementation of the remaining Accord recommendations on research sustainability and full funding of competitive grants.