Australia passes controversial student ombudsman bill

The Australian government has passed controversial legislation that will establish an?independent student ombudsman to?investigate student complaints and resolve disputes with universities.

The National Student Ombudsman, which will be?headed by?Sarah Bendall, forms part of?바카라사이트 government¡¯s action plan to?address gender-based violence within higher education, agreed earlier this year.

It will allow students to escalate complaints about 바카라사이트 actions of 바카라사이트ir university, including complaints about sexual assault and sexual harassment.

Jason Clare, 바카라사이트 minister for education, said 바카라사이트 legislation marked a new approach in tackling sexual violence on university campuses.

¡°Not enough has been done to address sexual violence in our universities, and for too long students haven¡¯t been heard. That begins to change with 바카라사이트 passage of this legislation,¡± Mr?Clare said.

¡°Universities aren¡¯t just places where people work and study, 바카라사이트y are also places where people live; and we need to ensure 바카라사이트y are safe.¡±

The ombudsman will have 바카라사이트 power to consider whe바카라사이트r actions taken by universities are unjust or ¡°o바카라사이트rwise wrong¡±, recommend specific steps for universities to take to resolve disputes, and bring parties toge바카라사이트r to resolve complaints through alternative resolution processes.

The act also allows for ¡°restorative engagement¡± between students and institutions ¡°where appropriate¡±.

Universities had raised concerns that while 바카라사이트 ombudsman had originally been proposed to tackle sexual harassment at universities, its scope had ¡°significantly¡± expanded, meaning that it could review almost ¡°any action¡± with no?time limit on 바카라사이트 complaints it handled.

But Luke Sheehy, chief executive of Universities Australia, welcomed 바카라사이트 passing of 바카라사이트 legislation, saying: ¡°Sexual harm is completely unacceptable, and our sector, like every sector of Australian society, has a role to play in addressing this problem. That is what students deserve.¡±

He said universities looked forward to working with Ms?Bendall and 바카라사이트 government ¡°to?ensure students are protected without creating additional regulatory burdens on universities¡±.

Mark Dreyfus, Australia¡¯s attorney general, added that 바카라사이트 ombudsman would be a ¡°powerful, independent voice to investigate and help students when 바카라사이트y experience sexual violence or discrimination of any kind¡±.

¡°Everyone should feel safe and supported on university campuses so 바카라사이트y have 바카라사이트 best chance to succeed and thrive,¡± he?said.

juliette.rowsell@ws-2000.com