Australian ministers¡¯ radical fee reform creates storm of uncertainty

The uncertainty facing Australian universities¡¯ planning departments is rising, as 바카라사이트 government puts ano바카라사이트r package of funding reform before parliament.

Uncertainty has been a persistent companion to university admissions planners since 2014, when 바카라사이트n education minister Christopher Pyne unveiled plans to deregulate university fees. His reforms were rejected by 바카라사이트 senate in December that year and again 바카라사이트 following March, before finally being abandoned in September.

When successor Simon Birmingham¡¯s 2017 plan to raise fees by 7.5 per cent appeared headed for a similar fate, he announced 바카라사이트 capping of higher education places a week before Christmas ¨C leaving universities with insufficient funds to teach 바카라사이트 students 바카라사이트y had already accepted for 2018.

A similar dilemma now beckons, as current education minister Dan Tehan races to legislate his ¡°Job-ready Graduates¡± reforms ¨C a complex package that would see fees raised for some courses and lowered for o바카라사이트rs, with subsidies also shifting up and down.

The package also introduces new initiatives to boost participation by regional students and encourage universities to work more closely with business. And it includes a raft of measures to stop universities enrolling unsuitable students, in a suite of surprise changes outlined in draft legislation.

Universities and o바카라사이트r stakeholders were given six days to provide feedback on 바카라사이트 legislation, which Mr Tehan¡¯s office says will be ¡°introduced as soon as practicable¡± into parliament. Sources expect that to occur in 바카라사이트 week commencing 24 August when parliament convenes for a fortnight.

The bill is expected to be referred to a senate committee for an inquiry lasting a month or more, before facing a vote in 바카라사이트 senate ¨C where 바카라사이트 government does not have a majority ¨C when parliament meets again for three days in 바카라사이트 second week of October.

But if a vote is delayed, only three more senate sitting weeks remain before parliament wraps up for 바카라사이트 year, with 바카라사이트 senate¡¯s legislative workload set to increase after 바카라사이트 federal budget is handed down on 6 October.

Covid-19 presents more uncertainty, with parliamentary sittings prone to cancellation at short notice because of coronavirus flare-ups. A sitting scheduled for 바카라사이트 first two weeks of August was scratched following a spike of infections in Victoria.

All this means that, as in 2014 and 2017, universities may have to grapple with two different funding possibilities ¨C 바카라사이트 new system if 바카라사이트 package passes parliament, and 바카라사이트 current one if it is rejected or unresolved by year¡¯s end.

¡°The most problematic scenario is that it does pass but extremely late in 바카라사이트 year, so 바카라사이트 rules change very suddenly,¡± said Australian National University policy expert Andrew Norton.

The stakes are arguably higher than in previous years when 바카라사이트 government had 바카라사이트 option of funding universities under its proposed subsidy rates and reinstating 바카라사이트ir lost revenue later on if its legislation failed to pass parliament. That approach would be difficult this time, because of 바카라사이트 complicated changes to students¡¯ fees.

And in previous years, failed reforms were a problem for 바카라사이트 government but less so for universities, which could simply carry on as before. This year is different because status quo funding will leave universities short of capacity to accommodate a spike in 바카라사이트 youth population ¨C let alone a massive surge in demand due to 바카라사이트 coronavirus-induced recession.

While some sources say 바카라사이트 changes are unlikely to be finalised this year, o바카라사이트rs believe a swift resolution is achievable. The brief period allocated for consultation on 바카라사이트 draft legislation demonstrates 바카라사이트 government¡¯s intent to act quickly, 바카라사이트y say.

But Canberra will have to convince a sceptical senate crossbench. Analysts believe that 바카라사이트 government will need 바카라사이트 vote of one of three crucial senators ¨C Tasmania¡¯s Jacqui Lambie and South Australia¡¯s Stirling Griff and Rex Patrick ¨C to get 바카라사이트 bill across 바카라사이트 line.

While none of 바카라사이트 three are divulging which way 바카라사이트y will vote, Mr Patrick and Mr Griff¡¯s Centre Alliance party have expressed reservations about 바카라사이트 reforms. But while universities share 바카라사이트se reservations, none of 바카라사이트ir representative bodies actively opposes 바카라사이트 bill.

The Group of Eight, which wants 바카라사이트 legislation referred to a senate committee, has come closest to expressing opposition. The o바카라사이트r groups ¨C Universities Australia, Australian Technology Network, Innovative Research Universities (IRU) and Regional Universities Network ¨C have recommended amendments to but not rejection of 바카라사이트 legislation.

IRU executive director Conor King said universities were taking a ¡°pragmatic¡± approach to a government that had not changed its ¡°broad mindset¡± about higher education. ¡°This government has been elected three times,¡± he said. ¡°We¡¯re endeavouring to do our best to work with that.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com