policy & reform campusreview. com. au
Whilst Christopher Pyne remains committed to seeing his reform plans passed through Parliament, the Go8 has announced it will no longer support discussions of the legislation, pending further analysis.
The Go8 has long supported the government’ s proposal for fee deregulation, describing it as the“ only long-term solution on offer”. However, on the last day of March, the group announced it would not support further modification of the current reform package, nor countenance other proposals being floated as solutions.
Here Go8 chief executive Vicki Thomson explains the move, whilst other industry stakeholders give their thoughts on how the government and sector should move forward from here.
OK, now what?
First the Senate said no to proposed reforms, then the Go8 withdrew its support for the debate; it’ s time to see how those moves affect various stakeholders’ positions on the issue.
Interviews by Antonia Maiolo
Corrupted by compromise Vicki Thomson, chief executive, Go8
The critical funding issues facing our nation’ s universities still need long-term resolution.
If the current funding model is not changed, it is our students who will suffer most. The Go8, which educates 25 percent of Australia’ s undergraduate students, remains totally and consistently supportive of fee deregulation as a long-term sustainable solution to funding.
That has been our position for [ about ] three years. It has not changed.
What the Go8 does not, and will never, support is legislation so corrupted by compromise in an attempt to secure a Senate win. To support such a way forward is to sign up to an unknown and potentially unworkable compromise that does not offer a longterm solution and would be fee-deregulation in name only.
That is why, about two weeks ago, the Go8 publicly called STOP! The political process is broken. Let’ s hit the reset button. Of course that’ s not where the Go8 wants to be, as funding problems compound through delay, but we have no choice. A solution that damages the future opportunities of the next generation of Australian professionals and puts at risk the research that drives our nation is untenable.
So let’ s stop now. Because the worst of all [ outcomes ] is something that delivers no solution, something that can’ t work and something that means we are all back to square one with the same financial issues in just a few years regardless of who is in government.
From what the Go8 hears from the opposition and the Senate cross-benchers, realistically they won’ t pass any new version of the funding legislation that comes before them. Basically it seems they are over it. However, since it appears everyone does agree that the current funding system is broken and the correct solution must be found, the Go8 wants to involve business and industry – which hire our graduates and need our research for their development – in breaking the deadlock. We want to work with business and industry to review the reasoning, to put forward analysis that underpins the required good public policy and, very importantly, prove that such a solution is essential.
We also must bring the public with us and prove to them that this is not some self-serving cause( as some have portrayed it) but that the future opportunities of their children, jobs growth and business development are at stake.
These are very high stakes. We must get it right – and for the long term.
Stay engaged, consider all options.
16