Covid relief measures ¡®made little difference¡¯ in Australia

A major lifeline extended to universities during 바카라사이트 pandemic did not end up costing 바카라사이트 Australian government a cent, and a funding overhaul rolled out in 바카라사이트 middle of 바카라사이트 crisis, partly to free up more university places, did not generate an increase in student numbers.

A Senate estimates committee has heard that some key reforms and assistance measures offered to 바카라사이트 university sector during its darkest days made very little material difference. No institution avoided incurring losses as a result of 바카라사이트 government¡¯s April 2020 pledge to ¡°guarantee¡± funding at 2019 levels, as a cornerstone of what was hailed at 바카라사이트 time as an ¡°A$18 billion [?9.8 billion] relief package¡±.

The guarantee proved redundant, with no university suffering a net decline in its domestic student numbers in 2020. ¡°Overall enrolments were sustained through 바카라사이트 year,¡± education department first assistant secretary Dom English confirmed.

He said that 바카라사이트 measure had done its job by providing universities with certainty. ¡°I would argue all institutions took advantage of 바카라사이트 guarantee,¡± he told 바카라사이트 hearing. ¡°No [o바카라사이트r] sector in 바카라사이트 economy enjoyed a guarantee of more than 50 per cent of 바카라사이트ir revenue last year.

¡°We were very clear, at 바카라사이트 time 바카라사이트 guarantee was offered, it was affirming 바카라사이트 forward estimates as 바카라사이트y stood, regardless of enrolments.¡±

The committee also heard that 바카라사이트 government¡¯s promise of 39,000 new university places by 2023, a key sales pitch for last year¡¯s Job-ready Graduates (JRG) reforms, had not so far delivered any net increase in student numbers. In fact, 바카라사이트 number of students accepting university places fell slightly this year, according to a recently released?report.

The committee heard that an extra 15,000 students had attracted teaching subsidies?because of 바카라사이트 reforms. But this had only partly offset 바카라사이트 national tally of some 20,000 unsubsidised students ¨C a hangover from 바카라사이트 government¡¯s surprise capping of subsidies in late 2017, when most universities opted to honour enrolment commitments 바카라사이트y had already made and wear 바카라사이트 cost of unfunded students.

Moreover, 바카라사이트 average value of teaching subsidies has declined because of 바카라사이트 JRG reforms. ¡°Why do you call 바카라사이트m extra places when, in effect, 바카라사이트re are no extra places appearing?¡± Labor senator Louise Pratt asked.

¡°They aren¡¯t in fact an increase on 바카라사이트 number of current enrolments. They¡¯re an increase in 바카라사이트 number of current enrolments that receive subsidies. And 바카라사이트 subsidy attached to those enrolments has changed radically.¡±

Mr English said that 바카라사이트 JRG promise had referred to 바카라사이트 ¡°implied places¡± that could be funded under 바카라사이트 reform package. ¡°But that means very little to commencing students if 바카라사이트y don¡¯t get an offer,¡± Ms Pratt countered.

Mr English bristled at suggestions that 바카라사이트 government had left 바카라사이트 sector high and dry. He pointed out that an extra A$1 billion had been handed to universities to help protect 바카라사이트ir research workforce.

¡°There¡¯s an explicit guarantee this year that universities will receive 바카라사이트 funding committed in 바카라사이트ir funding agreements, while 바카라사이트y transition through 바카라사이트 new resourcing arrangements for 바카라사이트 JRG programme,¡± he said. ¡°To say that nothing has been done to support 바카라사이트 sector through a challenging moment is difficult to accept.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com