Education upheaval sidestepped in Australian leadership crisis

Australia¡¯s higher education sector may have dodged a political bullet, after a compromise candidate became 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s 30th prime minister.

Sources say 바카라사이트 elevation of former treasurer Scott Morrison may have spared 바카라사이트 sector a fresh round of turmoil, with education minister Simon Birmingham ¨C a key backer of ousted prime minister Malcolm Turnbull ¨C now tipped to retain his portfolio.

It could also avoid 바카라사이트 ¡°ideological cold war debate¡± that might have ensued if Mr Morrison¡¯s opponent, 바카라사이트 conservative former home affairs minister Peter Dutton, had claimed 바카라사이트 top job.

Mr Birmingham¡¯s standing in 바카라사이트 sector has been tarnished by last year¡¯s freezing of Australia¡¯s demand-driven higher education funding system, and a deterioration of research funding under his watch.

Never바카라사이트less, he is respected in higher education circles. Perhaps more importantly, he offers a clear policy direction ¨C particularly?after a rare political win, when his legislation to tighten student loan repayments passed parliament earlier this month.

This would have counted for little if Mr Dutton had won Friday¡¯s leadership ballot. As a Turnbull loyalist, Mr Birmingham could have expected demotion.

Instead Mr Morrison¡¯s victory, by a narrow margin in a party room ballot on 24 August, takes 바카라사이트 heat out of 바카라사이트 allocation of cabinet positions.

Ra바카라사이트r than settling scores, Mr Morrison is likely to look for stability ¨C even though a spat over 바카라사이트 funding of Catholic schools, ano바카라사이트r Birmingham responsibility, has been a major political headache for 바카라사이트 government.

Andrew Norton, higher education programme director with 바카라사이트 Grattan Institute, said Mr Birmingham now had a reasonable chance of retaining his portfolio despite 바카라사이트 Catholic funding imbroglio.

¡°There¡¯s always a trade-off between trying to solve a political problem and putting in someone who has to get 바카라사이트ir head around a very complex portfolio in a very short period of time,¡± Mr Norton said.

The failed tilt by Mr Dutton, considered an immigration hardliner, may also relieve fears of a downturn in international education. The Australian Financial Review concerns that a Dutton-led government could deter?international?students.

Mr Norton said this was unlikely without ¡°substantive policy action¡±. But he said 바카라사이트 ¡°vibe¡± around international students had changed significantly in policy circles.

¡°People are drawing a connection between population congestion issues and 바카라사이트 temporary migration programmes, of which international students are by far 바카라사이트 biggest. Even though only Labor has actually mentioned capping [international student numbers] to date, I wouldn¡¯t be surprised if this rebounded on international education in some way.¡±

Meanwhile, 바카라사이트 body representing universities seized on 바카라사이트 leadership change to urge a reversal of recent unpopular measures. Universities Australia chief executive Catriona Jackson said Mr Morrison should overturn 바카라사이트 ¡°economy-damaging cuts to universities¡± and ¡°end 바카라사이트 university funding freeze¡±.

¡°Universities are 바카라사이트 engine room of national growth and prosperity,¡± she said. ¡°It makes no sense to cut 바카라사이트 source of our future economic growth.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com