University Legislation Amendment Bill 2017

Overview

This bill modernises the governance of Queensland's seven public universities. It removes the power for universities to make statutes, requires each to publish a policy for electing staff and student representatives, loosens delegation rules, and imposes new disclosure duties on governing body members. It also lets James Cook University reshape the size and composition of its council.

Who it affects

University staff, students and council members at CQU, Griffith, JCU, QUT, UQ, USQ and USC are most directly affected, along with Parliament, which loses oversight of university statutes.

Key changes

• Queensland public universities can no longer make statutes - they will rely on policies instead, with regulation sitting with the Commonwealth TEQSA
• Every university must publish an election policy covering staff and student representation on its governing body, including secret ballots and complaints processes
• James Cook University's council can decide its own size (11 to 21 members) and composition by a two-thirds majority resolution, with elected staff and students guaranteed at least 25% of seats
• Governing body members must disclose if they become disqualified from managing a corporation or are convicted of an indictable offence, with a maximum fine of 100 penalty units for failing to do so
• Unauthorised disclosure of a member's criminal history information becomes a new offence with a maximum penalty of 100 penalty units
• Deputy chancellors can now act for the chancellor whenever the chancellor is absent from duty, not just when absent from Queensland, and the UQ Academic Board president's term can now be up to three years instead of one