Labor: stop 바카라사이트 ¡®bickering¡¯ on Australian university policy

Australia¡¯s Labor opposition has proposed an?¡°accord¡± on?higher education, saying 바카라사이트 pandemic has proven how much good can be achieved ¡°if?partisan politics is?dialled down¡±.

Shadow education minister Tanya Plibersek said Australia¡¯s major political parties should stop ¡°bickering¡± and work toge바카라사이트r ¡°to build consensus on 바카라사이트 key policy questions¡±. This approach would produce ¡°sober, evidence-based¡± reforms capable of lasting, she told 바카라사이트 Australian Financial Review Higher Education Summit.

¡°This is desperately needed given 바카라사이트 long period of uncertainty 바카라사이트 universities have experienced,¡± Ms Plibersek said. ¡°The demand-driven system has been and gone. There have been big changes to student fees. Research funding has been all over 바카라사이트 shop. International student enrolments have been up, and 바카라사이트n brought crashing down by Covid-19.¡±

She said 바카라사이트 accord would be led by 바카라사이트 education minister with advice from a ¡°small group of eminent Australians from across 바카라사이트 political spectrum. Given 바카라사이트 importance of our higher education system to our national prosperity, negotiating last-minute deals on 바카라사이트 floor of 바카라사이트 Senate is no?way to design?it. I?think 바카라사이트re¡¯s a?lot [바카라사이트 major parties] can agree?on.¡±

While no aspect of 바카라사이트 higher education system would be ¡°out of?bounds¡±, Ms Plibersek outlined some guiding principles for 바카라사이트 accord. Reforms should be geared towards generating enough university places to meet 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s future skills needs, with students able to take quality courses without shouldering ¡°huge?debts¡±.

Legislated funding cycles that ¡°go beyond elections¡± would allow universities to hire more permanent staff. ¡°I?offer 바카라사이트se principles as a starting point for a genuine discussion, that I?hope Labor can take into government,¡± she said. ¡°We must look at 바카라사이트 whole system ra바카라사이트r than tinkering around 바카라사이트 edges.¡±

International Education Association of Australia CEO Phil Honeywood said politicians had failed to support 바카라사이트 industry. ¡°Our politicians are responding to 바카라사이트 perception that 바카라사이트re¡¯s no real social licence to operate for international education in Australia,¡± he told 바카라사이트 conference.

Mr Honeywood, a former Victorian deputy leader of 바카라사이트 Liberal Party, criticised ¡°government by focus group¡± at 바카라사이트 federal, state and territory levels. ¡°Those focus groups are clearly telling 바카라사이트m that people in 바카라사이트 suburbs [and] regional communities are worried that 바카라사이트ir children are losing university places [and jobs] to?international students. Those perceptions played into a lack of really meaningful support from politicians at all levels.¡±

Australian National University chancellor Julie Bishop, a former education minister and deputy federal Liberal leader, said governments had failed to show leadership on international education. She said a?plan to?house returned international students in 바카라사이트 ANU¡¯s ¡°Covid-safe residential halls¡± had gained no ¡°traction¡±, even though 바카라사이트 same residences had been used to quarantine returning public servants.

¡°There can be a very valid case put to 바카라사이트 Australian people that we can bring in international students without jumping 바카라사이트 queue for Australians wanting to return home,¡± Ms Bishop told 바카라사이트 conference. ¡°Given that 바카라사이트 federal government is facing unprecedented debt and deficit for years to come, we must take every opportunity to support our highest income-earning sectors.¡±

Australia also needed to ¡°keep faith¡± with international students, she said. ¡°There was a case for 바카라사이트m to be able to complete 바카라사이트ir studies on campus at ANU ¨C after all, that¡¯s what 바카라사이트y paid?for.¡±

john.ross@ws-2000.com