This year's Budget contains some worthwhile announcements for higher education but the Australian Democrats are concerned about its long-term implications for students.
"Despite consistent calls from the sector, the Government still refuses to index adequately grants for inflation. Why there was not sufficient funding for this with such a healthy surplus is beyond me," Democrats Spokesperson for Higher Education, Senator Natasha Stott Despoja said.
"The $5 billion Endowment Fund is a welcome initiative for funding university infrastructure, an area in which universities are crying out for assistance. Contrary to Government spruiking about the $5 billion, however, it actually represents only approximately $300 million each year to be divided among 38 universities so it needs to be seen in context.
"We also reserve final judgment on the Fund until we see the details of how it will be implemented in legislation. Will it be open to private universities? Will there be strings attached?
"I welcome the increased funding to most disciplines under the Commonwealth Grant Scheme cluster model a substantial one in the case of mathematics and statistics, which is long overdue. However, I am concerned that accounting, administration, economics and commerce students have to cop a large reduction. Doesn't the Government value these skills?
"The Budget contains a win for the Democrats in relation to increased assistance for student income support. We have long campaigned for Rent Assistance to be extended to Austudy recipients and, finally, the Government has responded.
"Overall, this Budget is good for universities but not good for students. Universities get significant new investment but students face the prospect of institutions unfettered by the cap on the proportion of full-fee degrees for domestic undergraduates.
"In the long-term this signals a further shift to a university sector where the Government is no longer the 'majority shareholder' and where access to university depends more on ability to pay than academic merit," Senator Stott Despoja said.
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