Australian universities will be required to publish detailed financial information, including consultancy spending, executive salaries, and governance meeting decisions, under new federal standards.These measures aim to enhance transparency and accountability in higher education institutions.

The reforms, part of the University Governance Principles, also include an anti-racism standard that mandates specific definitions of anti-Semitism, racism towards Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, and Islamophobia.

The changes follow multiple governance crises at institutions like the Australian National University and ongoing concerns about campus safety for Jewish students.

Federal Education Minister Jason Clare emphasized the need for universities to meet community expectations, comparing the governance framework to corporate standards like the ASX Corporate Governance Principles.

The new rules require annual reporting to the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency, covering topics such as risk management, workforce diversity, and transparent complaint processes.With over $22 billion in public funding annually, the reforms seek to address accountability and ensure safer, more inclusive campuses.

Critics have raised concerns about the anti-Semitism definition and free speech implications, but the government maintains these standards are essential to combat hate in educational settings.