Queensland University of Technology Amendment Bill 2021

As Minister for Education, moved the bill and strongly supported reducing the QUT Council from 22 to 15 members to improve governance efficiency while maintaining appropriate representation.

“Twenty-two members is a lot of members. I think it makes sense to reduce membership to 15.”— 2021-11-16View Hansard

As LNP shadow minister for education, supported the bill in a spirit of bipartisanship, noting the reduction aligns with best governance practice and Universities Australia's voluntary code.

“The Liberal National Party will not be opposing this legislation. I acknowledge the bipartisanship of the parliamentary committee with respect to its recommendation.”— 2021-11-16View Hansard

As committee chair, supported the bill noting it adopts best practice governance and praised the bipartisan committee process.

“The policy objective of this bill is to streamline QUT's council and to adopt best practice under the university's voluntary code.”— 2021-11-16View Hansard

As committee deputy chair, supported the bill citing it as fundamentally about efficiency and compliance with best practice governance standards.

“Fundamentally this bill is about efficiency. It is about two broad themes: reducing the size of the QUT Council from 22 to 15 members with an eye to best practice in terms of governance and skills.”— 2021-11-16View Hansard

Supported the bill as a committee member, noting the council reduction will improve effectiveness and responsiveness.

“The submissions from Griffith University and QUT supported the proposed amendments. They considered that a smaller governing body will ensure the appropriate representation for the university and improve the effectiveness, participation and responsiveness in council meetings and operations.”— 2021-11-16View Hansard

Confirmed KAP would not oppose the bill, noting the reduction to 15 members will create efficiencies in governance while maintaining appropriate skills representation.

“From the outset, I say that the KAP will not be opposing the Queensland University of Technology Amendment Bill.”— 2021-11-16View Hansard

Supported the bill as a committee member, emphasising the importance of reasonable governance reform for statutory bodies like universities.

“This is an example, perhaps as the member for Hinchinbrook just reflected, of a more technical bill but an important one just the same, because Queensland public universities, the great places of learning and research that they are, are at their core foundation statutory bodies established by the respective act of this parliament.”— 2021-11-16View Hansard

Supported the bill as a committee member, noting it will create efficiencies in governance despite some union concerns about consultation.

“The good thing about this bill is that in the long run it will create efficiencies in the governance processes of the university.”— 2021-11-16View Hansard

Strongly supported the bill as essential for good governance, noting universities need strong strategic leadership particularly to navigate COVID-19 recovery.

“At the core of this bill is the improvement of governance for universities. Anybody who has done the AICD company directors course, been on a management committee or been a director knows that good governance is a key to success.”— 2021-11-16View Hansard

Opposed the bill, arguing it reduces democratic representation and accountability by replacing elected members with external appointed members, representing a corporatisation of universities.

“This bill does nothing in terms of achieving any of these goals. Instead, its provisions will only serve to diminish them, particularly the important principles of independence, accountability and transparency.”— 2021-11-16View Hansard

As a former QUT Council member, strongly supported the bill noting it aligns QUT with modern university councils and enables more effective governance.

“The policy objectives of this bill are to implement governance reforms for Queensland University of Technology and to enable an appropriate balance between the number of members and a mix of necessary skills and expertise required for effective governance on the QUT Council.”— 2021-11-16View Hansard

Supported the bill, noting the model will align QUT with other modern university councils and is functioning well at similar institutions.

“It is proposed that the model will align QUT with other modern university councils and we see that those universities are functioning well.”— 2021-11-16View Hansard

Supported the bill as an educator, emphasising the importance of strong university councils for governance and noting the reduction aligns with Universities Australia's voluntary code.

“The importance of strong leadership and a solid vision driven by our university councils is vital to ensuring student achievement as well as both state and national prosperity.”— 2021-11-16View Hansard

Supported the bill, noting it provides timely and necessary governance reforms allowing QUT to operate more seamlessly in a competitive environment.

“If a contemporary governance structure allows QUT a more seamless way of operating in an increasingly competitive and ever-changing environment then the proposed reforms in this bill are both timely and necessary.”— 2021-11-16View Hansard

As a QUT alumnus, supported the bill noting it ensures the council is streamlined and efficient, particularly important during challenging times for the university sector.

“This bill reduces the number of members on the council. The bill ensures that the council is streamlined and efficient, especially in these trying times for the university sector.”— 2021-11-16View Hansard

Strongly opposed the bill, arguing it corporatises universities and reduces staff and student representation on the council, breaching international principles on higher education governance.

“This bill is a Trojan Horse for corporatising our universities. It will reduce collegiality, transparency and accountability. Today it is the Queensland University of Technology; tomorrow it is the rest of our public universities. The Queensland Greens stand with university staff and students and will not be supporting this bill.”— 2021-11-16View Hansard

Supported the bill, noting the reduction allows the council to be more flexible and responsive in line with the voluntary code of best practice.

“The proposed reduction in size is intended to allow the council to be more flexible and responsive in its operations and is in line with the Universities Australia's Voluntary Code of Best Practice for the Governance of Australian Universities.”— 2021-11-16View Hansard

As a QUT alumnus, supported the bill noting the governance changes sound clean and will enhance the council's ability to make fluid decisions.

“Coming very much from the corporate world, to me that sounds clean. It sounds as though the governance will still be protected and I think, if anything, enhanced in terms of the council's ability to make fluid decisions.”— 2021-11-16View Hansard

As a QUT graduate, supported the bill noting the bipartisan support for these governance reforms.

“We know that this bill reduces the number of council members from 22 to 15. It has bipartisan support, so I can safely say that I commend this bill to the House.”— 2021-11-16View Hansard

As a former QUT Student Guild president and QUT Council member, supported the bill as reasonable and appropriate to allow more effective council operations.

“QUT also noted that the proposed structure would ensure appropriate representation for the university community, importantly continuing to allow student representation.”— 2021-11-16View Hansard

As a proud QUT alumnus, supported the bill as a sensible streamlining of governance that brings QUT into line with other universities.

“This bill is very important because it really streamlines the QUT governance board and structure for the real world. That is why we are here today.”— 2021-11-16View Hansard

Supported the bill, noting it modernises governance to allow the council to be more flexible and responsive in line with best practice standards.

“This bill seeks to implement governance reforms for the Queensland University of Technology to modernise and streamline the university council by reducing the size of the council from 22 to 15 members.”— 2021-11-16View Hansard

Supported the bill while acknowledging NTEU concerns, noting universities like QUT are vital for Queensland's economy and the new board will face challenges in COVID recovery.

“We know the value of universities such as QUT, but we should recognise that this period has been very tough for our universities.”— 2021-11-16View Hansard

As a QUT alumnus, supported the bill as a sensible conclusion that will enable appropriate governance structures for the university to continue to thrive.

“I am advised that the bill will enable an appropriate balance between the number of members and mix of necessary skills and expertise required for effective governance by the council.”— 2021-11-16View Hansard