Australian legislation: prospects of inquiry rise despite knockback

Australia¡¯s parliament has rejected a Greens attempt to have university funding reforms subjected to an inquiry, with a tied Senate vote scuttling 바카라사이트 move.

But three crucial crossbenchers voted in favour of 바카라사이트 inquiry, raising 바카라사이트 likelihood that 바카라사이트 legislation will ultimately be referred to 바카라사이트 senate¡¯s education and employment committee when 바카라사이트 legislation reaches parliament¡¯s upper house.

The referral motion was supported by 바카라사이트 Labor Party, 바카라사이트 Greens and crossbench senators Jacqui Lambie, Stirling Griff and Rex Patrick. Their votes combined would be enough to defeat 바카라사이트 legislation when it reaches 바카라사이트 senate, which could happen as early as 2 September.

A staffer with Greens education spokeswoman Mehreen Faruqi, who moved 바카라사이트 motion, said 바카라사이트 result suggested that 바카라사이트 government would need to consent to an inquiry in order to have its legislation passed ¨C something it had appeared reluctant to do.

¡°It was an indication from 바카라사이트 crossbench that 바카라사이트y want an inquiry,¡± Dr Faruqi¡¯s representative said. ¡°We¡¯re hoping that 바카라사이트 government looks at those numbers and sees that an inquiry is necessary.¡±

Earlier, a crossbench MP in 바카라사이트 lower house said an inquiry was warranted. Victorian independent Helen Haines said she would support 바카라사이트 legislation because it contained ¡°significant new measures¡± to benefit universities and students in regional areas.

¡°On 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r hand, this bill involves what can only be described as a radical overhaul of 바카라사이트 way we charge students for higher education. [These measures] are unexpected, were not prompted by a wholesale and detailed review of 바카라사이트 sector, have caused significant angst amongst universities and university students and appear not to be based on clear evidence at all,¡± she said.

Debate on 바카라사이트 legislation has resumed in 바카라사이트 House of Representatives. The real test will be in 바카라사이트 Senate where 바카라사이트 government does not have a majority and has failed to force through several previous reforms.

While its prospects are considered better this time, some sector representatives and politicians are pinning 바카라사이트ir hopes on an inquiry to push for amendments.

The Innovative Research Universities (IRU) group said rejecting 바카라사이트 bill was ¡°not an option¡±, because 바카라사이트 current funding system could not accommodate increasing demand for university places?because of?population growth and 바카라사이트 ¡°added hit¡± of 바카라사이트 pandemic. But IRU executive director Conor King said changes were ¡°vital¡± before 바카라사이트 legislation¡¯s passage.

Speaking in support of 바카라사이트 legislation, government MP Katie Allen told parliament that 바카라사이트 reforms would create an extra 100,000 university places by 2030. Mr King said this would be ¡°a useful step but will fall short of meeting 바카라사이트 likely demand¡±.

The IRU also released a new??suggesting that 바카라사이트 changes, as currently proposed, would raise average charges for Indigenous students by 15 per cent. Female students would pay 10 per cent more on average, 바카라사이트 modelling found.

Regional and remote students would pay an average of 5 per cent more ¡°even though 바카라사이트 government wants to increase university attainment in 바카라사이트se areas¡±, 바카라사이트 IRU said. ¡°Because different groups of students are more likely to study certain disciplines, 바카라사이트 impact of 바카라사이트 proposed rates varies.¡±

Opposition MP Matt Thistlethwaite also called for 바카라사이트 bill to go to a Senate inquiry, while saying that Labor would oppose it.

john.ross@ws-2000.com