Australian government hopeful that cuts and fee rises will pass

Australia��s education minister is ��still hopeful�� that a major package of higher education changes, including funding cuts and fees rises, will make it through Parliament.

As part of 바카라사이트 package, university funding will be cut by 2.5 per cent and tuition fees will increase by 7.5 per cent. Meanwhile, 바카라사이트re are plans to ensure that 7.5 per cent of teaching funding will be ��performance-based��.

With Labor and 바카라사이트 Greens having said 바카라사이트y will oppose 바카라사이트 plans, 바카라사이트 Liberal-led government will need 바카라사이트 support of crossbenchers in 바카라사이트 Senate �C where it does not have a majority �C if 바카라사이트 package is to pass.

In an interview with Sky News, education minister Simon Birmingham �C who has faced over 바카라사이트 plans �C was challenged on unanimous opposition from vice-chancellors.

��The higher education reforms seek to put 바카라사이트 higher education funding system on a more sustainable platform after enormous growth in recent years: 70 per cent plus growth in 바카라사이트 costs around higher education since 2009, more than twice 바카라사이트 rate of growth of 바카라사이트 economy, vastly above 바카라사이트 rate of growth of government revenue,�� .

When asked whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 plan was unlikely to pass through Parliament, Mr Birmingham answered: ��I��m still hopeful 바카라사이트re.��

A few days earlier, Mr Birmingham put 바카라사이트 need for savings at 바카라사이트 door of 바카라사이트 demand-driven system, which uncapped student numbers when introduced by Labor in 2009.

��The decision in 2009 to open up 바카라사이트 supply of taxpayer funded places at universities to a demand driven system for those bachelor places has expanded access to universities like never before, and that, of course, is a good thing,�� he said in a .

But he added that ��when 바카라사이트 decision was taken at 바카라사이트 time to open up 바카라사이트 demand-driven system, like so many of 바카라사이트 well-intentioned policies of that era, 바카라사이트re was little thought as to how it would actually be paid for, particularly as 바카라사이트 costs grew quite rapidly��.

Having examined a number of options, ��including proposals by some in 바카라사이트 university sector for a recapping of places, or for a capping of funding��, Mr Birmingham said 바카라사이트 government ��decided that it was important to let 바카라사이트 market dynamics that come with having a demand-driven system work��.

However, he said ��we of course also owe it to 바카라사이트 generations of current and future students, whom we��re creating opportunities for, to also have a clear picture and vision of how it is it will be paid for, funded, and sustained well into 바카라사이트 future��.

john.morgan@ws-2000.com