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NTEU media release: Higher education gets reprieve from major budget cuts but some students to pay more

Posted 8 May 2012 by Andrew Nette (NTEU National Office)

The National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) is relieved to see that higher education has been spared any major funding cuts in tonight’s federal budget.

But the major outcome of the federal government’s base funding review, specifically an increase in overall public funding to universities, has yet to be realised.

“University staff will no doubt be relieved to see that funding increases through improved indexation have not been reversed in the budget, despite rumours to the contrary,” said Jeannie Rea, NTEU National President.

“Research funding, mooted as another possible area for cuts, has also been maintained at its current level.”

“In a tough budget year, the government has even managed to make good on the base funding review’s recommendations around social inclusion by increasing funding for equity measures by around $23 million over four years.”

“This is a welcome recognition of the increased pressure being placed on universities by the new demand driven system and the fact that some students need more help to get up to speed to succeed with their university studies.”

“The budget also contains over $30 million in measures to increase the effectiveness of maths and science teaching at universities.”

“The sting in the tail of these changes is current maths and science students will pay more in fees through the retrospective removal of all discounted HECS places, after having been originally exempted when these discounts were removed last year.

“NTEU is disappointed although not surprised to find that the main outcome of the federal government’s base funding review, specifically an increase in overall public funding to universities, has yet to be realized.”

“NTEU will continue to press hard for the government to address the recommendations of the funding review,” said Rea.

For more information and comment

Jeannie Rea, NTEU National President: 0434 609 531

Andrew Nette, NTEU Media Officer: 0431 217 131

Tags: , , • Related Blogs: ACT Division, NSW Division, NT Division, Vic Division, WA Division, SA Division, Qld Division, Tas Division, Australian Catholic University, University of Adelaide, Australian Defence Force Academy, Australian National University, University of Ballarat, Batchelor Institute of Indigenous Tertiary Education, Bond University, University of Canberra, Charles Darwin University, Central Queensland University, Charles Sturt University, Curtin University of Technology, Edith Cowan University, Flinders University, Griffith University, James Cook University, La Trobe University, Macquarie University, University of Melbourne, Monash University, Murdoch University, University of Notre Dame Australia, University of Newcastle, University of New South Wales, Queensland University of Technology, RMIT University, Southern Cross University, Swinburne University of Technology, University of Sydney, University of New England, University of Queensland, University of South Australia, University of the Sunshine Coast, University of Southern Queensland, University of Technology Sydney, University of Western Australia, University of Western Sydney, Victoria University, University of Wollongong

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