Opened the debate
Gallagher argued that the bill addresses serious issues of sexual assault and harassment on campuses, citing statistics that one in twenty students reported sexual assault and one in six reported harassment. Gallagher stated the legislation establishes a National Higher Education Code requiring universities to implement evidence-based prevention plans and report progress every six months. Gallagher emphasized that the code mandates trauma-informed responses, prohibits non-disclosure agreements unless requested by victim-survivors, and ensures accountability through a new specialist branch within the Department of Education. Gallagher noted that vice-chancellors and CEOs would be directly accountable for compliance, with significant civil penalties available for failures to meet standards or reporting obligations.