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Media Release
A NEW DAY FOR AUSTRALIA’S UNIVERSITIES
4 December, 2003 MIN 554/03
Australia’s universities have a vibrant and assured future after the passage tonight through the Senate of the Government’s Higher Education Reform package Our Universities: Backing Australia’s Future.
The package will deliver to universities more than 34,000 fully funded HECS places and $2.4 billion over the next five years. The increased new public funding will be close to $11 billion over ten years.
Just as importantly it will deliver much needed reform, freeing universities to grow in areas of expertise, reducing class sizes and finally placing the student at the centre of the university experience.
The package will provide:
- An additional $404 million in base funding
- $122 million over four years to support regional campuses
- $121 million in new funding to support teaching and nursing programmes
- Approximately 25,000 fully funded places to replace marginally funded places
- More than 9,000 new fully funded places for universities over the next five years, including for medicine, teaching and nursing
- Approximately $250 million in scholarships, worth up to $24,000 each, to assist students with education and accommodation costs
- $188 million to support teaching and learning, including a National Institute for Learning and Teaching
- new loan schemes to assist those students who choose to pay the full cost of their education, and those wanting to spend a semester or two studying overseas
- Approximately $90 million to support a range of equity initiatives, including funding for indigenous students, students with disabilities and those from disadvantaged backgrounds
- $55 million to support workplace productivity in universities
- $36 million to support collaboration and structural reform
- Reforms to Governance and administration
The repayment threshold at which students begin to repay their HECS will rise to $35,000 ($36,184 in 05/06).
The Australian Government was determined to see these reforms through in the national interest. I thank the four independent Senators; Meg Lees, Brian Harradine, Len Harris and Shane Murphy for the constructive approach which has enabled the bills to pass. They have placed Australia’s interests ahead of all else.
Future generations of Australians, who will study in universities which are the envy of the world, will also have much cause to thank the independent Senators.
Media contact:
Dr Nelson’s Office: Ross Hampton 0419 484 095
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