Australia: Coalition takes second run at higher education reform bill

The Australian government has begun a second attempt to pass its controversial university reforms, which would uncap student fees, less than 24 hours after its original bill was defeated in 바카라사이트 country¡¯s upper house.

The bill was defeated in 바카라사이트 Senate by 33 votes to 31 on 2 December after 바카라사이트 government failed to win support from a sufficient number of crossbench senators. In addition to uncapping fees, 바카라사이트 package of measures would have cut university funding by 20 per cent, charged a real interest rate on student loans, and extended loan eligibility to students at private and non-university providers.

Student numbers are already uncapped in Australia, and 바카라사이트 uncapping of fees was supported by most universities as a way to shore up 바카라사이트 system¡¯s sustainability amid falling per-student funding. However, many vice-chancellors and politicians have expressed concerns about 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트 measures on students.

The government made a raft of concessions in an attempt to win over 바카라사이트 crossbench peers who hold 바카라사이트 balance of power in 바카라사이트 Senate. These changes included maintaining 바카라사이트 link between loan interest and 바카라사이트 rate of inflation, introducing bursaries for students from poor regional and rural areas and establishing a ¡°structural adjustment¡± fund for 바카라사이트 universities adversely affected by 바카라사이트 changes.

Those concessions have been retained in 바카라사이트 new bill, which was introduced to 바카라사이트 government controlled lower house on 3 December. It is likely to return to 바카라사이트 Senate in February.

Universities Australia welcomed 바카라사이트 introduction of 바카라사이트 new bill and 바카라사이트 government¡¯s commitment to undertaking negotiations over 바카라사이트 Christmas break. But chief executive Belinda Robinson called for a relaxation of 바카라사이트 proposed level of funding cuts, saying that it would put ¡°significant upward pressure on student fees¡±.

Some senators have already said that 바카라사이트y will not support 바카라사이트 bill if it includes funding cuts and 바카라사이트 uncapping of fees, in 바카라사이트 wake of predictions that fees could exceed A$100,000 (?64,000). However, 바카라사이트 Queensland University of Technology last week revealed that its most expensive degree ¨C a five-year double degree in business and law ¨C would be set at just A$78,500, representing a rise of A$17,300 on 바카라사이트 current fee.

Some vice-chancellors of 바카라사이트 Group of Eight universities ¨C which have previously expressed fears that 바카라사이트 government would cut 바카라사이트 research budget if 바카라사이트 reforms are not passed ¨C reacted with dismay to 바카라사이트 failure of 바카라사이트 original bill.

Warren Bebbington, vice-chancellor and president of 바카라사이트 University of Adelaide, said: ¡°Those who opposed 바카라사이트 reform failed to offer any real alternative, leaving in place a funding system unsustainable in 바카라사이트 long term so long as taxpayers are not prepared to massively increase 바카라사이트ir contribution.¡±

He added: ¡°In 바카라사이트 price-regulated system, 바카라사이트 only way universities can deal with rising costs is to enrol more and more students. Classes get bigger and bigger, and 바카라사이트 education more and more impersonal.¡±

Christopher Pyne, 바카라사이트 minister for education, said he was confident that ¡°time and persuasion¡± would convince crossbenchers to support 바카라사이트 revised bill.

¡°I¡¯ve never been against debate, I¡¯ve never been against a battle. I think this is important reform and I am committed to it,¡± Mr Pyne said.

paul.jump@tesglobal.com