policy & reform campusreview. com. au
A firm Pyne against ill winds
Minister vows to continue deregulation efforts as critics keep bashing the plan.
By Andrew Bracey
University leaders have welcomed the opportunity for a genuine conversation about the future of funding in the sector despite many expressing disappointment at the Coalition’ s repeated failure to pass its deregulation reforms.
Universities Australia chief executive Belinda Robinson called on senators opposing the legislation to show highereducation the same bi-partisan support traditionally granted to national security and defence as the reforms were of equal“ public interest”.
“ This consensus should extend to the intellectual building blocks of our economic security,” she said in a statement.“ The defeat of the Higher Education and Research Reform Bill has created the opportunity for the government to engage with all stakeholders in developing a robust funding framework that is durable, sustainable and predictable.”
Robinson also rejected calls from some including independent Senator Nick Xenophon for major reforms such as deregulation to be taken as a proposal to a federal election.
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