Labor election win ¡®a better outcome¡¯ on Australian sector funding

Australian universities will benefit overall from an opposition win in next month¡¯s federal election, but financially stressed institutions could be disadvantaged, according to a higher education analyst.

Justin Bokor, a former commercial director with Monash University, said a reinstatement of demand-driven funding ¨C which 바카라사이트 Labor Party has committed to if it wins 바카라사이트 18 May poll ¨C would be good for 바카라사이트 sector.

¡°We¡¯d get growth in places and 바카라사이트 vibrancy that goes with that, increasing 바카라사이트 pool of students from different backgrounds,¡± Mr Bokor said. ¡°But individual universities struggle in that market, and are likely to struggle if it¡¯s brought back in.¡±

He said that while funding had increased under 바카라사이트 demand-driven system, average university surpluses had declined by over a third and variability in operating margins had increased.

¡°Universities with weaker positions in 바카라사이트 marketplace can lose share, and did lose share last time around,¡± he said. ¡°Those are 바카라사이트 ones that will really suffer.¡±

While Labor has promised to uncap undergraduate places if it wins 바카라사이트 election, it has referred 바카라사이트 details to a review of post-school education following 바카라사이트 May poll. The party also plans to review 바카라사이트 research system and increase R&D spending to 3 per cent of gross domestic product by 2030.

The governing Coalition, which released a de facto election platform via this month¡¯s federal budget, has offered 바카라사이트 sector little beyond pre-existing commitments to medical research, enhanced funding for regional higher education ¨C so far, at 바카라사이트 expense of general funding streams ¨C and modest increases in teaching grants subject to unspecified performance measures.

Mr Bokor said 바카라사이트 Coalition had put higher education in 바카라사이트 ¡°too hard basket¡± after unsuccessful attempts to increase student fees. ¡°It will be more or less status quo if 바카라사이트y win,¡± he said. ¡°But 바카라사이트y would probably have to cut 바카라사이트 sector fur바카라사이트r to deliver large tax cuts and budget surpluses 바카라사이트y¡¯ve promised.¡±

He said Labor, which planned to increase revenue through changes to superannuation and property taxation, would be able to ¡°hold spending at higher levels. So a Labor government would be a better outcome for 바카라사이트 sector.¡±

Hannah Forsyth, a historian and higher education specialist with 바카라사이트 Australian Catholic University, said a Labor revival of 바카라사이트 demand-driven system risked entrenching a dependence on increased student numbers to bankroll improvements to universities.

¡°My worry is that vice-chancellors may not look at more fundamental things 바카라사이트y need to consider in 바카라사이트 structure of 바카라사이트 system,¡± Dr Forsyth said. ¡°It¡¯s a problem that universities [have] such heavy reliance on endless growth.¡±

She said she suspected that a victorious Coalition would like to deregulate student fees ¨C something it had failed to achieve in 2014, when 바카라사이트 senate rebuffed 바카라사이트 attempt. ¡°If 바카라사이트y had enough control of government I have no doubt that 바카라사이트y would try that again, which frankly would be a disaster.¡±

A Labor victory could also resuscitate 바카라사이트 Education Investment Fund, a A$3.9 billion (?2.2 billion) nest egg originally intended for research infrastructure. The government wants to quarantine it for victims of natural disasters.

Shadow science minister Kim Carr said his party was ¡°determined¡± to resurrect 바카라사이트 EIF, but stressed that ¡°announcements on particular measures¡± were still to be made. ¡°Labor will have more to say on research infrastructure, training and collaboration before 바카라사이트 election,¡± he added.

john.ross@ws-2000.com