Xenophobia Wins over Higher Education in Federal Budget

The 2002-03 Federal budget is a knee-jerk reaction to September 11 and the Tampa Crisis. This Government chose to spend several hundred million dollars on a so-called pacific solution and massive defence programs and yet, left Higher Education by the wayside.

"The Howard Government is more concerned about keeping people out of Australia rather then letting Australians into Universities" said CAPA President Leisa Ridges.

"Instead of prioritising higher education, which benefits all Australians, this government has demonstrated that fear has taken the place of rational thought with the release of this budget," she said.

Figures released only yesterday show a 6.1% decline in domestic students commencing Doctorate by Research and 6.5% in Masters by Research degrees. In the latter, only 2,881 students commenced in 2001, which is the lowest commencement numbers in ten years.

"The Government has done nothing in this budget to address these diminishing numbers" said CAPA Treasurer Dave Coffman. "Rather, the Government insists on keeping higher education funding in a holding pattern" he said.

"A funding increase of $1 billion dollars is required for the current crisis in Universities to be addressed, yet at a time of 4.5% growth in the economy, the Government insists on spending almost $4 billion on the military" said Ms Ridges.

"CAPA is extremely disappointed about the Government's priorities in this budget," she said.

It is stated in the Education Minister's recent review paper, that "the Australian higher education system makes a fundamental contribution to the nation's future. The strength, diversity and flexibility of our Universities are vital to the building of a nation'.

"I couldn't agree more," said Ms Ridges. "If the Minister can acknowledge the vital importance of Higher Education to Australia's future when will he start to invest in it?" she asked.