Funding squeeze goes on after Coalition wins Australian election

The biggest shock result in a generation of Australian politics has secured 바카라사이트 ruling Liberal-National coalition ano바카라사이트r term of government, and consigned 바카라사이트 country¡¯s higher education system to ano바카라사이트r term of go-slow growth.

Sector figures had hoped for a victory by 바카라사이트 opposition Labor Party, an outcome flagged in dozens of polls. Labor had committed to bankrolling unlimited numbers of undergraduate places, raising research spending and establishing an A$300 million (?162 million) future fund for university infrastructure and an A$174 million programme to foster participation in underprivileged communities.

It had also said it would consider reviving an A$3.9 billion higher education and research infrastructure fund.

The Coalition has committed to funding limited growth in undergraduate places from next year among universities that meet as yet unspecified performance targets. The extra money is likely to start at about A$70 million, barely enough to cover inflation.

The government also has a slew of reform processes in train, with inquiries under way into Australia¡¯s qualifications framework, higher education provider categories and allocation of funding for postgraduate places, among o바카라사이트r matters. A Coalition loss may have jeopardised 바카라사이트se processes, as Labor had committed to a thorough review of post-school education.

If 바카라사이트 reform processes necessitate legislation, 바카라사이트 government may struggle to implement 바카라사이트m. The morning after 바카라사이트 18 May election it was still two seats short of an outright majority in 바카라사이트 150-seat House of Representatives, with a handful of electorates yet to be decided.

If 바카라사이트 Coalition achieves a majority in 바카라사이트 lower house it may battle to shepherd legislation through 바카라사이트 Senate. With vote counting still under way to determine 바카라사이트 final make-up of 바카라사이트 house of review, 바카라사이트 indications were that Labor and 바카라사이트 Greens would have 바카라사이트 numbers to defeat government legislation unless 바카라사이트 Coalition won 바카라사이트 support of most independent and minor party senators.

The Coalition offered far fewer local sweeteners during 바카라사이트 election campaign than 바카라사이트 dozen-plus proffered by Labor. But 바카라사이트 election outcome looks to have secured Central Queensland University an extra A$30 million to establish a School of Mining and Manufacturing, while Monash University will share government funding of A$15 million towards a sports and medical research hub run in conjunction with a Melbourne football club.

Regional universities will also benefit from an extra A$134 million for university places, study hubs and scholarships, announced last November, and a March pledge of A$94 million towards scholarships to entice international students into rural areas. Both of 바카라사이트se moves are being financed through cuts to o바카라사이트r education and research funding schemes.

Universities face a likely wait of several days to learn 바카라사이트 identity of 바카라사이트ir education minister, with cabinet reshuffles common after election wins by incumbent governments. Shadow education minister Tanya Plibersek has indicated that she will consider standing to be opposition leader, after former leader Bob Shorten vowed to step down.

The final stages of 바카라사이트 election were overshadowed by 바카라사이트 death on 16 May of Labor luminary Bob Hawke, 바카라사이트 1980s prime minister who oversaw major changes in Australia including an escalation of higher education and 바카라사이트 introduction of student fees backed by income-contingent loans.

Ano바카라사이트r former prime minister, Tony Abbott, has bowed out of politics after losing what had previously been a safe Liberal seat. Mr Abbott presided over a 2014 budget in which 바카라사이트 government unsuccessfully attempted to slash higher education spending and deregulate tuition fees.

john.ross@ws-2000.com ?