Category: News
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Media statement: strong ATEC leadership creates opportunity to advance higher education reform
The Group of Eight (Go8) acknowledges the appointment of Professor Barney Glover AO as Chief Commissioner of the Australian Tertiary Education Commission, alongside a highly experienced group of Commissioners. Go8 Chief Executive Vicki Thomson said Professor Glover brings deep sector knowledge and a strong track record of leadership across Australian…
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Media statement: University Report Card Sectoral Assessment
The Group of Eight takes the Craven report seriously. Any suggestion that universities are not doing enough to protect students and staff from harassment, intimidation or hate must be treated with urgency. Australia’s leading research universities accept that responsibility does not end with policy statements. It rests on what happens…
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Joint statement: Budget takes a positive first step on productivity
The Alliance of Industry Associations described measures in the Federal Budget as positive first steps on productivity reform, while calling for further action to deliver sustained cost of living relief for households and businesses. The Alliance, representing around 30 industry groups from a broad cross-section of Australia’s economy, has previously…
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Media release: Budget delivers new horizon for Australian researchers
The 2026-27 Budget measure to provision funding for association to the world’s largest research fund, Horizon Europe, will secure Australia’s position as a global research powerhouse, and marks a new era for the nation’s research and innovation sector. This represents a nation building and strategic investment in Australia’s economic security,…
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Opening statement: Senate Higher Education Support Amendment (Reverse Job-Ready Graduates Fee Hikes and End 50k Arts Degrees) Bill 2025 Inquiry
Opening statement to Senate Education and Employment Legislation Committee Inquiry by Dr Matthew Brown, Deputy Chief Executive, The Group of Eight Thank you for the opportunity to appear before the Committee on behalf of the Group of Eight and to make a short opening statement. The Go8 educates nearly 80,000…
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Joint Submission: Alliance of Industry Associations Pre-Budget Submission 2026-27
Our Alliance of Industry Associations (the Alliance) welcomes the opportunity to make this pre-Budget submission to inform the development of the 2026–27 Budget. We acknowledge and commend the Government for its leadership in convening the Economic Reform Roundtable in 2025. Bringing together business, unions, academia and other stakeholders to focus…
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Joint media release: Business leaders call for 25% red tape reduction amid rising costs
Nearly 30 groups representing small, medium and large businesses, and universities, that employ millions of Australians, are calling on all governments to cut regulatory costs by 25 per cent to help consumers and businesses amid surging costs caused by the Middle East war. The Alliance of Industry Associations, which represents…
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Speech: EABC Board Welcome to Senator the Hon Tim Ayres by Vicki Thomson
European Australian Business Council Boardroom Dinner with Senator the Hon Tim Ayres, Minister for Industry and Innovation – 14 April 2026 (Sydney) The past few weeks have been extraordinary. The Australia–EU Free Trade Agreement is concluded. A new defence and security partnership is in place. And Australia is now on…
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Debate@Go8 – Episode 54 – Professor Marco Fiorentini, Director, ARC Centre in Critical Resources for the Future
Professor Marco Fiorentini, Director of the ARC Centre in Critical Resources for the Future, from The University of Western Australia, discusses why Australia’s strength in critical minerals is not just about what’s in the ground – but about the research capability, skills and innovation needed to find, extract and process…
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Go8 submission to inquiry into Higher Education Support Amendment (Reverse JRG Fee Hikes and End 50k Arts Degrees) Bill 2025
Senate Education and Employment Legislation Committee Group of Eight Universities (Go8) submission to inquiry into Higher Education Support Amendment (Reverse Job-Ready Graduates Fee Hikes and End 50k Arts Degrees) Bill 2025 The Group of Eight (Go8) supports serious and timely consideration of the ongoing impacts of the Job-ready Graduates (JRG)…
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Media release: Research recognised as fundamental in much improved ATEC
The passage of much improved legislation to establish an Australian Tertiary Education Commission (ATEC) marks a significant turning point for Australia’s higher education sector. After decades of inconsistent policy and unintended consequences, the sector will get the independent authority it needs with the standing to provide frank, fearless and evidence-based…
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Media release: Go8 leads high‑level delegation to Japan to deepen critical research collaboration
The Group of Eight will convene a high-level Australia-Japan research dialogue this week, bringing together senior leaders form the two countries’ leading research-intensive universities to deepen cooperation on research, economic and cyber security in an increasingly contested global environment. The Go8-Japan Roundtable “Deepening Engagement on Economic, Research and Cyber Security”…
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An Open Letter from Australia’s Medical Research and Scientific Community
The Hon Mark Butler MP Minister for Health and Ageing Minister for Disability and the National Disability Insurance Scheme Senator The Hon Jenny McAllisterMinister for the National Disability Insurance Scheme The Hon Sam Rae MPMinister for Aged Care and Seniors Dear Minister Butler, Senator McAllister and Minister Rae Australia stands…
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Speech: Vote of Thanks – Go8 Chief Executive Vicki Thomson
EU-Australia Business Luncheon with H.E. Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, NSW Parliament House, Sydney, Wednesday 25 March 2026 It is a privilege to offer sincere thanks on this landmark occasion. Today is about more than finalising the successful conclusion of negotiations for a trade agreement. It…
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Media release: A new era for Australian trade, national security, research and innovation
Today’s historic announcements – the conclusion of the Australia EU-FTA, the Security and Defence Partnership and fast tracking of Australia’s association with Horizon Europe – reflect the growing strategic importance of the Australian European Union partnership. In a contested, high risk global environment, the integration of trade, defence, and research is…
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Media release: Bold reform now needed to rebuild Australia’s R&D system
The Strategic Examination of Research and Development (SERD) final report, Ambitious Australia, leaves no doubt that research and development is fundamental to Australia’s economic future, sovereign capability and national wellbeing. Group of Eight Chief Executive Vicki Thomson said the report arrives at a critical moment. “Now more than ever, as…
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Global Research-Intensive Universities Network (GRIUN): London Statement
We meet at a moment of significant global instability. Rising geopolitical tensions, the spread of misinformation and social division are weakening public trust. Across the world and within our communities we are facing unprecedented technological, societal and natural challenges. At such a time, the values which define leading research-intensive universities…
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Go8 submission to the Select Committee on Productivity in Australia
Senator Andrew Bragg, Chair of Select Committee on Productivity in Australia, Parliament House, Canberra ACT 2600 Introduction Productivity growth is the fundamental driver of Australia’s long-term economic growth and prosperity. Since Federation, growth in living standards has overwhelmingly been underpinned by improvements in labour productivity. Around two-thirds of these gains…
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Go8 statement on the Australian Human Rights Commission Respect at Uni Report
Quotes attributable to Group of Eight Chief Executive Vicki Thomson: “The Australian Human Rights Commission’s Racism@Uni Study makes for sobering reading. It presents confronting evidence that racism is experienced by too many students and staff, with profound impacts, and that institutional responses have not always met the seriousness of the…
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Opening statement to the Education and Employment Legislation Committee Inquiry into the Universities Accord (ATEC) Bill 2025
Opening statement by Group of Eight Chief Executive Vicki Thomson Thank you for the opportunity to appear before the Committee. The need for an Australian Tertiary Education Commission is not in question. The sector has been without an independent authority to guide government policy for decades – since the abolition…
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Media release: Go8 warns Budget failure to fix research funding will ‘hold Australia back’
The Group of Eight (Go8) has made clear that the 2026–27 Federal Budget is a critical test of the Government’s commitment to productivity, innovation, and long‑term economic growth, outlining three decisive actions required to stabilise and strengthen Australia’s research system. Go8 Chief Executive Vicki Thomson said two major, independent reviews…
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Go8 Universities 2026–27 Pre-Budget Submission
The Treasury Introduction The Go8 universities are a cornerstone of Australia’s economy. As the nation’s leading research-intensive institutions, they deliver more than 20 percent of Australia’s total investment in research and development (R&D) – contributing $8.5 billion annually to our knowledge economy. This R&D has significant public value and is…
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Go8 submission on the Universities Accord (Australian Tertiary Education Commission) Bill 2025 and a related bill
Senate Education and Employment Legislation Committee The Go8 recognises the establishment of the Australian Tertiary Education Commission (ATEC) as a significant opportunity to provide long-term, evidence-based policy advice and funding recommendations for the higher education sector and steward the sector towards the objectives of the Australian Universities Accord. This is…
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Go8 statement on the appointment of Professor Glyn Davis AC
Group of Eight Chief Executive Vicki Thomson said the appointment of Emeritus Professor Glyn Davis AC as Interim Vice-Chancellor of the University of Melbourne will ensure ongoing exceptional leadership and stability, as the university community comes to terms with the tragic passing of Professor Emma Johnston AO. “Professor Davis, who…