Uni funding threat to end rape on campus

Labor deputy leader Tanya Plibersek wants to establish a three-year task force to ensure universities improve the way they respond to allegations of assault on campus.

All universities will have to publish data on sexual harassment and assaults to improve transparency and better track progress.

Universities that fail to make meaningful change will risk fines and could have their public funding frozen.

"These are very serious issues and they deserve to be dealt with in this very serious way," Ms Plibersek told reporters in Sydney on Friday.

An Australian Human Rights Commission report found that in 2016, just over half of students had been sexually harassed on campus.

"We've got a million students - that's over 500,000 people that have been harassed on campus," Ms Plibersek said.

The report found seven per cent (70,000 students) had experienced sexual assault.

Another survey said that of 600 formal complaints made to universities - including 145 sexual assaults - only six student perpetrators had been expelled because of their behaviour.

"These figures tell an alarming story about a lack of safety on our campuses around Australia," Ms Plibersek said.

Labor also wants to work with state governments to improve safety at residential colleges.

"Assault and harassment on our campuses is all too common," Ms Plibersek said.

Universities Australia chief executive Catriona Jackson said there had been three years of comprehensive sector-wide work to stamp out sexual violence against students.

Ms Jackson said a 10-point plan included training for university counsellors, guidelines on responding to reports of sexual violence, and principles for respectful relationships between supervisors and their students.

"There is no greater priority for our universities than the safety and security of our students," she said.

Australian Associated Press