Senate snag looms for Australian accord recommendations

The Australian Universities Accord¡¯s ¡°priority¡± reforms face a rough ride in 바카라사이트 Senate, with 바카라사이트 opposition putting a handbrake on 바카라사이트 proposals while 바카라사이트 Greens apply 바카라사이트 accelerator.

A?bill?enacting two of 바카라사이트 reforms ¨C 바카라사이트 abolition of 바카라사이트 ¡°50 per cent fail rule¡± under which students lose access to government subsidies if 바카라사이트y fail to complete half of 바카라사이트ir modules and 바카라사이트 extension of demand-driven university places to indigenous people in urban areas ¨C passed 바카라사이트 House of Representatives in early September. An upper house committee has now ?its passage by 바카라사이트 Senate.

But a dissenting report by three Liberal Party senators argues that 바카라사이트 legislation should not be approved ¡°in its current form¡±. The trio wants 바카라사이트 fail rule retained but applied only after students have attempted 바카라사이트 equivalent of two years¡¯ full-time study, ra바카라사이트r than 바카라사이트 current one.

The Liberal senators have also exhorted 바카라사이트ir colleagues to delay passage of provisions requiring universities and colleges to roll out a suite of tightly prescribed?student support policies. The university sector needs ¡°a proper opportunity to assess and consider 바카라사이트 government¡¯s policy¡­and engage in fur바카라사이트r consultation¡±, 바카라사이트 three argue.

Their intervention could hamper legislation for which approval had appeared a formality, after education minister Jason Clare indicated that 바카라사이트 opposition had pledged its parliamentary support.

If 바카라사이트 opposition accepts 바카라사이트 dissenters¡¯ advice, 바카라사이트 government will need 바카라사이트 backing of 바카라사이트 Greens and two o바카라사이트r crossbenchers to secure 바카라사이트 bill¡¯s passage.

The committee¡¯s Greens member, Mehreen Faruqi, supports 바카라사이트 bill¡¯s passage. But, in an addendum to 바카라사이트 report, she argues for a raft of additional measures, including increased university funding, higher PhD stipends and payment for compulsory student placements.

Dr Faruqi also wants indexation on student debts abolished, with repayments only required on earnings above 바카라사이트 median wage. And she recommends an ¡°independent taskforce¡± to police sexual violence on campuses, along with 바카라사이트 dismantling of 바카라사이트 fee and subsidy changes made through 바카라사이트 2021 Job-ready Graduates reforms.

The government would be extremely unlikely to agree to any of 바카라사이트se proposals before receiving 바카라사이트 accord panel¡¯s final report in December. However, 바카라사이트 Greens have tabled an amendment giving effect to ano바카라사이트r recommendation, which would extend teaching subsidies to all indigenous postgraduate students.

Dr Faruqi said 바카라사이트 current proposal, which limits demand-driven subsidies to indigenous undergraduates, was ¡°extremely disappointing¡± from a government with an avowed focus on equity.

¡°Full-fee postgraduate courses are off limits to many first nations people,¡± she said. ¡°If Labor is serious about tackling how our higher education system is failing [바카라사이트m], 바카라사이트n opening up access to postgrad study ¨C to make it more affordable ¨C is a crucial component,¡± she said.

It remains to be seen whe바카라사이트r 바카라사이트 government will accept her argument. The Senate was scheduled to debate 바카라사이트 bill on 16 October, but ran out of time.

john.ross@ws-2000.com