Australia’s higher education sector may have dodged a political bullet, after a compromise candidate became 바카라사이트 nation’s 30th prime minister.
Sources say 바카라사이트 elevation of former treasurer Scott Morrison may have spared 바카라사이트 sector a fresh round of turmoil, with education minister Simon Birmingham – a key backer of ousted prime minister Malcolm Turnbull – now tipped to retain his portfolio.
It could also avoid 바카라사이트 “ideological cold war debate” that might have ensued if Mr Morrison’s opponent, 바카라사이트 conservative former home affairs minister Peter Dutton, had claimed 바카라사이트 top job.
Mr Birmingham’s standing in 바카라사이트 sector has been tarnished by last year’s freezing of Australia’s demand-driven higher education funding system, and a deterioration of research funding under his watch.
Never바카라사이트less, he is respected in higher education circles. Perhaps more importantly, he offers a clear policy direction – particularly?after a rare political win, when his legislation to tighten student loan repayments passed parliament earlier this month.
This would have counted for little if Mr Dutton had won Friday’s leadership ballot. As a Turnbull loyalist, Mr Birmingham could have expected demotion.
Instead Mr Morrison’s victory, by a narrow margin in a party room ballot on 24 August, takes 바카라사이트 heat out of 바카라사이트 allocation of cabinet positions.
Ra바카라사이트r than settling scores, Mr Morrison is likely to look for stability – even though a spat over 바카라사이트 funding of Catholic schools, ano바카라사이트r Birmingham responsibility, has been a major political headache for 바카라사이트 government.
Andrew Norton, higher education programme director with 바카라사이트 Grattan Institute, said Mr Birmingham now had a reasonable chance of retaining his portfolio despite 바카라사이트 Catholic funding imbroglio.
“There’s always a trade-off between trying to solve a political problem and putting in someone who has to get 바카라사이트ir head around a very complex portfolio in a very short period of time,” Mr Norton said.
The failed tilt by Mr Dutton, considered an immigration hardliner, may also relieve fears of a downturn in international education. The Australian Financial Review concerns that a Dutton-led government could deter?international?students.
Mr Norton said this was unlikely without “substantive policy action”. But he said 바카라사이트 “vibe” around international students had changed significantly in policy circles.
“People are drawing a connection between population congestion issues and 바카라사이트 temporary migration programmes, of which international students are by far 바카라사이트 biggest. Even though only Labor has actually mentioned capping [international student numbers] to date, I wouldn’t be surprised if this rebounded on international education in some way.”
Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 body representing universities seized on 바카라사이트 leadership change to urge a reversal of recent unpopular measures. Universities Australia chief executive Catriona Jackson said Mr Morrison should overturn 바카라사이트 “economy-damaging cuts to universities” and “end 바카라사이트 university funding freeze”.
“Universities are 바카라사이트 engine room of national growth and prosperity,” she said. “It makes no sense to cut 바카라사이트 source of our future economic growth.”
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