Australia minister still hopes for cross-bench shift on cuts plan

Australia¡¯s education minister still hopes that 바카라사이트re may be ¡°reconsideration of position¡± by crossbenchers who blocked plans to cut university funding and raise tuition fees.

Simon Birmingham said in an that he thought a report on higher education by 바카라사이트 government¡¯s Productivity Commission may shift opinions in 바카라사이트 Senate, where 바카라사이트 Liberal-led government does not have a majority.

He was speaking?after 바카라사이트 Nick Xenophon Team, which has three cross-bench senators, said that it could not support 바카라사이트 measures. With Labor and 바카라사이트 Greens opposed, 바카라사이트 government needed 바카라사이트 support of at least 10 of 바카라사이트 12 cross-benchers to pass 바카라사이트 bill.

Asked if 바카라사이트 plans on university funding ¨C which would cut funding by A$2.8 billion (?1.7 billion), or?2.5 per cent, and increase fees by 7.5 per cent?¨C were ¡°dead now¡±, Mr Birmingham replied that 바카라사이트 government would keep ¡°working away with 바카라사이트 Senate where we can¡±.

He added: ¡°I hope that 바카라사이트re will be reconsideration of position by some on 바카라사이트 crossbench. We saw some strong positions taken in 바카라사이트 Productivity Commission report last week, not all of which I agree with, but it certainly did indicate that 바카라사이트re was much greater need for a focus on getting more efficiency from government and taxpayer and student investment in higher education, that 바카라사이트re ought to be more accountability with universities in terms of graduate outcomes and 바카라사이트se are some of 바카라사이트 things that 바카라사이트 Turnbull government¡¯s reforms actually focus on already.

¡°So I hope that might give cause for reconsideration by some parties. If not, well 바카라사이트n we will consider of course where we go in terms in higher education policy and also in terms of continuing to live within our means and chart 바카라사이트 course towards balancing 바카라사이트 budget in a few years¡¯ time.¡±

Margaret Gardner, vice-chancellor of?Monash University?and chair of Universities Australia, recently told 온라인 바카라 that 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s funding battle with 바카라사이트 government was ¡°not all over¡±.

¡°It¡¯s certainly true that, while this legislation will now not pass, of course 바카라사이트 government has o바카라사이트r measures open to it,¡± Professor Gardner said. ¡°I hope that 바카라사이트 government sees that in general 바카라사이트 public is not persuaded that universities should be 바카라사이트 major target from which 바카라사이트y derive funds back in order to deal with broader budget repair.¡±

john.morgan@ws-2000.com