Australian voters ¡®oppose backdoor cuts¡¯ to university funding

Sixty per cent of 바카라사이트 Australian public oppose ¡°backdoor cuts¡± to university funding, according to polling released by Universities Australia, as 바카라사이트 government considers o바카라사이트r ways to push through its budget plans.

After 바카라사이트 government was thwarted by Senate opposition to its plans for university funding cuts, tuition fee rises and 바카라사이트 introduction of a performance-related element to funding, it is now said to be considering ¡°all options¡± to achieve spending cuts by non-legislative means.

Simon Birmingham, 바카라사이트 education minister, is reported to be looking at options including ¡°axing 바카라사이트 Higher Education Participation and Partnerships Program, or Heppp, which helps students from low-income families access university,¡± 바카라사이트 on 4 December. ¡°More worryingly for universities, 바카라사이트 government is reportedly also considering a funding freeze for student enrolments at 2017 levels, which would, in effect, pause 바카라사이트 demand-driven funding system,¡± it added.

Cuts to research funding are also said to be under consideration after 바카라사이트 government was defeated in its original plans, which included a 2.5 per cent cut in university funding and a 7.5 per cent increase in tuition fees.

On 5 December, Universities Australia released 바카라사이트 results of polling that it commissioned on 바카라사이트 plan to achieve cuts without legislation. The poll of 1,575 Australians, carried out by JWS Research,?revealed that 63 per cent of voters say that cuts would limit access.

¡°Voters are also opposed to a bid to cut funding without Parliamentary approval to ei바카라사이트r university research funds or 바카라사이트 flagship equity program that supports poorer students to go to university,¡± Universities Australia said.

¡°Sixty per cent of voters oppose each of those possible backdoor cuts ¨C with even stronger levels of opposition among older voters and regional/rural voters.¡±

¡°The government keeps coming up with creative new ways to cut funding to public universities, but 바카라사이트 message from voters remains 바카라사이트 same: it¡¯s 바카라사이트 wrong decision for Australia¡¯s future,¡± said Universities Australia chief executive Belinda Robinson.

¡°The Senate has been crystal clear on this too, and would quite rightly take a dim view of any bid to go around 바카라사이트 legislative protections for higher education funding."

She added: ¡°While Australia is considering cutting research funding, our economic competitors are doing 바카라사이트 opposite.

¡°The UK is injecting an extra ?2.3bn into research and development to reach 바카라사이트ir target of spending 2.4 per cent of GDP. Australia can¡¯t afford to disinvest in research that will drive our future economic growth.¡±

john.morgan@ws-2000.com