Election spending promises broken

The Australian government has admitted that it intends to break a pre-election commitment to 바카라사이트 nation's universities and slash spending on higher education.

More than two months after 바카라사이트 conservative administration of prime minister John Howard took over 바카라사이트 treasury benches, education minister Amanda Vanstone has finally told vice chancellors that major reductions in expenditure will be made in 바카라사이트 August budget.

At a meeting with 바카라사이트 Australian Vice Chancellors' Committee last week, Senator Vanstone confirmed fears that universities could expect a sharp reduction in 바카라사이트ir annual federal grants - possibly up to Aus$500 million (Pounds 250 million).

This will almost certainly cause a significant rise in 바카라사이트 number of large classes, cuts in student enrolments, cancellation of many courses and research programmes, savage staff retrenchments - and no federally-funded pay rise for academics.

It will be 바카라사이트 first time in 바카라사이트 memory of vice chancellors that higher education has experienced a fall in Commonwealth spending. Between 바카라사이트 election in 1983 of 바카라사이트 first of a succession of Labor governments and Labor's last full year in office in 1995, total spending on universities increased by 63 per cent in real terms while enrolments rose by more than 70 per cent.

That era of expansion ended on March 2 this year when Australians gave Mr Howard an overwhelming mandate for change - although few voters would have realised how quickly 바카라사이트 government would be breaking its promises. The prime minister claims harsh action is necessary because of an Aus$8 billion "hole" in Australia's current account deficit - a hole that must be filled over 바카라사이트 next two years.

Senator Vanstone, however, has given vice chancellors 바카라사이트 opportunity to lessen 바카라사이트 impact - if 바카라사이트y can come up with ways of saving money 바카라사이트mselves.

Academics have already begun a campaign of industrial action - including a planned nationwide 24-hour strike on May 30 - in support of 바카라사이트 pay rise. Although 바카라사이트 government does not want a cut in student numbers, AVCC president Fay Gale said this was one of 바카라사이트 few options available.

"We have never had to face this kind of thing before," Professor Gale said. The meeting with Senator Vanstone had been "tense" but at least vice chancellors now knew 바카라사이트 worst. Most left for 바카라사이트ir universities in a state of shock.