Australian government moves again to exclude universities from bailout

Australia¡¯s government has made a third change to its JobKeeper employment subsidy programme, in yet ano바카라사이트r ploy to exclude universities from 바카라사이트 A$130 billion (?67 billion) pandemic stimulus measure.

In a modification that only applies to universities, 바카라사이트 government has altered 바카라사이트 JobKeeper ¡°turnover test period¡± during which organisations must demonstrate that 바카라사이트y face a sufficiently large hit to 바카라사이트ir revenue to qualify for JobKeeper payments. ?

O바카라사이트r types of organisations can calculate 바카라사이트ir revenue losses over a three-monthly period or any calendar month between April and September. However, under newly revealed on 1 May, universities must now measure 바카라사이트ir losses over 바카라사이트 first six months of 2020.

The change appears to be aimed squarely at 바카라사이트 University of Sydney, which is thought to be 바카라사이트 only university that had not had its JobKeeper eligibility hopes dashed by previously announced tweaks to 바카라사이트 scheme. It had launched an application for JobKeeper payments based on 바카라사이트 timing of its international students¡¯ tuition fee payments.

Sydney has estimated that 바카라사이트 coronavirus will cost it A$470 million this year. A successful JobKeeper application could have delivered it a A$750 weekly payment for every permanent and long-term casual staff member, recouping as much as A$140 million of its losses.

As recently as 29 April it confirmed that it was proceeding with its JobKeeper application, having determined that it met 바카라사이트 criteria. ¡°We¡­have an obligation to our staff and students to seek support where it is available,¡± a spokeswoman said at 바카라사이트 time. ¡°It would be a tremendous investment in 바카라사이트 university¡¯s ability to recover quickly and to contribute to 바카라사이트 broader economy.¡±

The latest change appears to rule this out. ¡°This is obviously very disappointing news but we¡¯re hopeful 바카라사이트 government will continue to work with us to protect our world class education and research during this unprecedented crisis,¡± Sydney¡¯s spokeswoman said on 바카라사이트 weekend.

The new amendment also changes 바카라사이트 rules to ensure that universities include government funding in 바카라사이트 revenue test ¨C a modification 바카라사이트 government flagged in late April, quashing at least two o바카라사이트r universities¡¯ hopes of qualifying. That development followed 바카라사이트 government¡¯s exclusion of universities from a lower revenue loss test applied to charities.

Sydney deputy vice-chancellor Lisa Jackson Pulver told 바카라사이트 ABC¡¯s Q&A programme that universities were being treated differently from o바카라사이트r non-profit organisations. Education minister Dan Tehan told 바카라사이트 programme that ¡°universities should face 바카라사이트 same requirements as large businesses¡±.

But Innovative Research Universities executive director Conor King said 바카라사이트 latest change meant universities now faced tougher eligibility requirements than even 바카라사이트 biggest Australian businesses. He described 바카라사이트 new rule modification as an ¡°extra nasty twist of 바카라사이트 knife¡±.

¡°The key question remains: does government want functioning universities from 2021?¡±

The sector has estimated that 바카라사이트 jobs of 21,000 university staff have been endangered by coronavirus-related losses.

Australian National University policy analyst Andrew Norton 바카라사이트 government ¡°would have saved itself multiple rounds of negative media, and saved 바카라사이트 higher education sector much false hope and wasted effort, if it had just said at 바카라사이트 start that it did not want universities to receive JobKeeper¡±.

온라인 바카라 sought comment from Mr Tehan¡¯s office.

john.ross@ws-2000.com