Make private providers accountable for funding, NTEU tells Senate Inquiry
14 November 2000
The National Tertiary Education Union has condemned the Commonwealth Government for using legislation to establish the Australian Research Council as a means for allowing private institutions `back door access’ to public funds.
National President Dr Carolyn Allport will today tell the Senate Inquiry examining the legislation that the Australian Research Council (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Bill 2000 proposes changes that have nothing to do with the Australian Research Council (which funds around $240m in research annually). Instead, these changes will take about $700million out of university operating grants and allow public and private institutions to compete for the money.
`We don’t believe that there is a good case for taking public money out of our universities and opening it up to increased competition,’ she said. `There isn’t enough money to fund research properly now, so why spread it more thinly?’
`If the Government wants to fund private institutions – and they haven’t given us any good reason why this would benefit Australians – then they should not be taking money out of our public universities to do it.’
Dr Allport will also warn the Senate Inquiry that the eligibility provisions proposed in the Bill would give the Minister unprecedented power in deciding who gets access to this money.
`The Bill allows the Minister to fund institutions that he thinks should be accredited higher education providers,’ she said. `Where is the proper accountability in this? We believe that any institution getting public funding should be subject to the same scrutiny and accountability provisions that is currently provided for under the Act.’
`Unless the Senate moves to amend this legislation, we could see scarce taxpayers dollars being spent without due regard for quality or accountability.’
Dr Allport will present evidence to the Senate Inquiry at 12.15pm on Tuesday 14 November
(S21, Parliament House, Canberra).
For further comment, contact her on 0419 349 064.