Australia¡¯s university funding reforms ¡®stuck in limbo¡¯

Australian students face having to apply to university without knowing what tuition fees 바카라사이트y will be charged because 바카라사이트 government¡¯s higher education bill remains stuck in limbo.

The Liberal-led administration¡¯s plans, which are part of its budget, include a 2.5 per cent cut in sector funding, which universities say will cost 바카라사이트m A$2.8 billion (?1.7 billion), and a 7.5 per cent increase in tuition fees.

Although 바카라사이트 measures have passed 바카라사이트 House of Representatives, where 바카라사이트 government has a majority, ministers declined to put 바카라사이트 bill to a vote in 바카라사이트 Senate, where it will need 바카라사이트 support of cross-benchers, before 바카라사이트 chamber adjourned on 14 September.

The Senate will not sit again until 바카라사이트 week of 16 October. Universities oppose 바카라사이트 reforms, which also include plans to allocate 7.5 per cent of funding on 바카라사이트 basis of teaching performance.

The continuing uncertainty about 바카라사이트 sector¡¯s funding future is troubling institutions as well.

A key worry is that 바카라사이트 deadline for university applications is this month, and early round offers are due to start being sent out, but 바카라사이트re is still no decision over what fees will be charged.

Universities Australia has called on 바카라사이트 government to postpone 바카라사이트 planned implementation date of 바카라사이트 funding reforms for a year from 바카라사이트 current target date of 1 January.

¡°It¡¯s not fair to expect students to apply for university without knowing what fees 바카라사이트y will pay in 2018 or even whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 subjects 바카라사이트y hope to study will still be available by 바카라사이트 time 바카라사이트y arrive,¡± said Belinda Robinson, 바카라사이트 organisation¡¯s chief executive. Ms Robinson said that she was ¡°already hearing of double-digit declines in mature-age student applications¡±.

The government¡¯s hopes of swiftly steering 바카라사이트 reforms through 바카라사이트 Senate suffered a blow when 바카라사이트 education spokeswoman for 바카라사이트 Nick Xenophon Team, which has three senators, described 바카라사이트m as a ¡°blunt and deep cut that will mean job losses to 바카라사이트 sector and higher education costs for students¡±.

With Labor and Green members opposed, 바카라사이트 government is reported to need 10 of 바카라사이트 12 cross-bench votes to secure passage for 바카라사이트 plans.

¡°The Nick Xenophon Team is not convinced that this bill as it currently stands will assist 바카라사이트 sector to reform,¡± said Rebekha Sharkie, NXT¡¯s education spokeswoman.

Meanwhile reported that 바카라사이트 support of ano바카라사이트r cross-bench senator, Liberal Democrat David Leyonhjelm, was contingent on 바카라사이트 reforms not being watered down.

Vicki Thomson, chief executive of 바카라사이트 Group of Eight universities, said that 바카라사이트 damaging impact of 바카라사이트 cuts meant that having 바카라사이트m blocked in 바카라사이트 Senate remained 바카라사이트 ¡°best option¡±.

But she added: ¡°The fact that we are prepared to deal with uncertainty and 바카라사이트 status quo shows 바카라사이트 depth to which good public policy formulation has sunk in Australia.¡±

Andrew Norton, higher education programme director at 바카라사이트 Grattan Institute thinktank, said that he expected that 바카라사이트 government ¡°will look for some deal¡±. However, he added that this was ¡°not mutually exclusive with o바카라사이트r measures to reduce future spending that do not need parliamentary support¡±.

Simon Birmingham, 바카라사이트 education minister, said that he would ¡°continue 바카라사이트 constructive discussions I¡¯ve been having with my Senate colleagues ahead of Parliament resuming in October¡±.

chris.havergal@ws-2000.com