University Funding

General Staff in Universities say Budget is Unfair for Students and Staff

Senate Inquiry into University Funding

Here is the Summary of Our Submission

"The CPSU, the Community and Public Sector Union has had a long experience with public education over many decades. The union has on many occasions responded to proposals by government, both State and Federal, to changes in which public education services are to be funded and delivered.

The Union has examined the Terms of Reference of the Senate committee of inquiry and has examined a great deal of comments and research upon the proposed changes in the 2003 Federal Budget Package entitled Backing Australia's Future.

The Union believes that, on a close examination of the immediate effects, and available research on the projected effects, of the 2003 Budget Package proposals for Higher Education that the proposals will have the effect of reducing access equity and quality of university teaching and research in Australia.

The Union believes that the budget package proposals will direct Australian Higher Education system, away from a model that attempts some equity and sharing of access to quality education, and towards a model of education access reliant upon the students', and their families', willingness and ability to pay.

The union believes that the substantial funding being handled as a contingency against university is pursuing industrial arrangements such as AWA's is unwarranted and based upon ideological motives rather than a formula for sound educational service delivery.

The proposals for changes to university governance and commercial responsibility are not well thought-out and lack a coherent and comprehensive examination of the existing accountabilities required by State Legislation. Further, the lack of a rationale dealing with such important matters stands in stark contrast to the significant amount of projected funding that relies upon the implementation of those proposals."

Resources:
Click here to download the CPSU Submission to the Senate Inquiry (word file File)

© 2001 Community & Public Sector Union - State Public Services Federation (CPSU-SPSF) - National Office

http://www.cpsu-spsf.asn.au/campaigns/higher_ed/20030824_157.html
Last Modified: 15 Nov 2005