With Tony Abbott’s reign in the rear-view, the Turnbull government is already setting itself apart from its predecessor with its first major policy switch-up. The government has affirmed that former education minister Christopher Pyne’s plan to allow universities to set their own fees would be dumped from next year. The new Education and Training Minister, Simon Birmingham, announced that any changes to university fees will be made in 2017 at the earliest, following our next federal election.
Christopher Pyne had the bill passed in the House of Representatives, but it was defeated in the Senate twice. His intention was to reintroduce the bill a third time, but fortunately for uni students he won’t get the opportunity to once again strap on his boots as his alter ego “The Fixer” due to the cabinet reshuffle.
The move appears to be an attempt to provide a degree of certainty for higher education in the coming year, as the original bill would have also cut course funding by 20 percent. Senator Birmingham noted he was educated in government schools in low socio-economic areas, and understands the need to commit to ensuring equitable access for all.
While this particular bill has been shelved, Birmingham's comments hint that the new Liberal government is likely set to eventually take action reforming the uncapping of undergraduate numbers, as well as extending funding to private colleges, TAFEs and associate degree programs – it still remains to be seen exactly what their official stance on higher education will be, however.
