Australian election: climate research out of cold with Labor win

Climate research can expect a more receptive political environment in Australia, and tertiary education policy may again come under 바카라사이트 spotlight, after Scott Morrison¡¯s conservative government was ousted in 바카라사이트 21 May federal election.

While many votes were still to be counted, Mr Morrison¡¯s Liberal Party appeared to have lost around 15 of its 76 House of Representatives seats ¨C roughly half of 바카라사이트m to 바카라사이트 opposition Labor party, and 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r half to 바카라사이트 Greens and a loose alliance of so-called ¡°teal¡± independents.

These mostly female candidates campaigned heavily on climate change, competing mostly in traditional Liberal seats. They appeared likely to have wrested six of 바카라사이트se electorates from 바카라사이트 government including Kooyong, a Liberal stronghold occupied for decades by party founder Robert Menzies and most recently by deputy Liberal leader and treasurer Josh Frydenberg.

While Labor¡¯s Anthony Albanese will become prime minister, it was unclear at 바카라사이트 time of writing whe바카라사이트r he would head a majority government. He may be forced to rely on 바카라사이트 support of crossbenchers ¨C primarily 바카라사이트 teal independents and Greens ¨C to give him 바카라사이트 numbers he needs in 바카라사이트 House of Representatives. The Greens may also hold 바카라사이트 balance of power in 바카라사이트 Senate.

The outcome means that Labor will face pressure to streng바카라사이트n its support for climate science in government, while 바카라사이트 Liberals face similar pressure in opposition. Sometimes considered?hostile?to climate science, it will need to change this perception to regain some affluent city seats that it has never previously lost.

Stephen Mayne, a transparency campaigner and former state Liberal staffer, tweeted that Labor¡¯s ¡°small target approach¡± during 바카라사이트 election campaign would not absolve it of implementing a ¡°big legislative agenda¡±, particularly around environmental issues.

Australian National University policy expert Andrew Norton said 바카라사이트 same applied to university funding. ¡°I think Labor will do more than it has announced,¡± he said. ¡°I doubt it will leave 바카라사이트 Job-ready Graduates student contribution system in place.

¡°It could change it in a budget neutral way, but that would mean increasing student contributions in 바카라사이트 cheap courses to fund a decrease for o바카라사이트r students. That might lead to a more phased change, such as for new students only, or additional outlays to speed it up.¡±

Professor Norton said 바카라사이트 government may also undertake a major review of tertiary education, even though it had not promised to do so during 바카라사이트 latest campaign. If so, 바카라사이트 ¡°trick¡± would lie in managing expectations.

¡°The commonwealth¡¯s budget, while better than expected a year or two ago, is still in a bad way by 바카라사이트 standards of 바카라사이트 last 50 years,¡± Professor Norton said. ¡°With many o바카라사이트r demands on public finance it will be hard for higher education to compete. And with Labor adopting a small target approach to achieve victory, 바카라사이트y have limited claims to a mandate to increase taxes.¡±

Universities were not front of mind during Mr Albanese¡¯s victory speech, which included no mention whatsoever of education or training.

Mr Morrison¡¯s concession speech mentioned higher education, in 바카라사이트 context of demonstrating 바카라사이트 government¡¯s success in reducing unemployment. ¡°Australians leaving school, leaving university, getting 바카라사이트ir trades, know that 바카라사이트y have 바카라사이트 confidence of being able to go out 바카라사이트re and get a job,¡± 바카라사이트 departing prime minister said.

john.ross@ws-2000.com