Universities Face Overlapping Regulatory Frameworks

Australia’s higher education sector faces increased regulatory complexity, according to the Australian Higher Education Industrial Association (AHEIA). The sector struggles with confusion and duplication due to overlapping regulatory responsibilities involving multiple regulators.n

AHEIA Chief Executive Officer, Craig Laughton, highlighted the need for better coordination and clarity within the regulatory system. “Universities recognise the importance of regulation and work constructively with regulators. However, the pace and volume of new regulatory requirements introduced in recent years has created an increasingly complex compliance environment,” Laughton said.n

Many regulators have been established or had their responsibilities expanded independently, contributing to the complexity. As a result, universities must navigate a system in which they are subject to multiple regulators examining similar issues through different legislative frameworks.n

“The issue is not the existence of regulation itself but the cumulative impact of multiple regulatory regimes operating simultaneously,” Laughton noted. He pointed out that significant time, expertise, and financial resources are directed towards managing duplicative compliance obligations.n

Impact on University Resourcesn

Universities navigate a landscape of overlapping obligations and complex reporting requirements. This situation has made compliance more resource-intensive, diverting time and financial resources from core activities like teaching, research, and student support.n

“Significant time, expertise and financial resources are being directed towards meeting regulatory requirements. Every additional hour spent managing duplicative or unclear compliance obligations is an hour that cannot be directed towards teaching, research, student support or other core university functions,” Laughton explained.n

Laughton argued for a comprehensive review of the higher education regulatory landscape by state and federal governments. “We need greater clarity about the remit of each regulator, clearer guidance on areas of shared responsibility and a deliberate effort to eliminate unnecessary overlap,” he added.n

Better coordination between regulators would reduce compliance costs, improve regulatory effectiveness, and allow universities to focus more of their resources on delivering high-quality education and research outcomes. Laughton suggested that more frequent regulatory impact assessments would assist governments in understanding the cumulative burden of regulation and identifying opportunities to streamline compliance obligations across the sector.