Greens to boost uni funding

The Greens outline their higher education policy which includes reversing the government’s $2.3 billion cuts. The Greens say they will invest nearly $1.5 billion in university funding over the next four years. Greens leader, senator Christine Milne, said, “The Greens’ plan to increase student base funding for universities by 10 per cent was recommended by the Bradley Review, which was initiated by Labor in 2008. “It is important to note the increase in funding comes on top of our plans to reverse Labor’s $2.3 billion higher education budget cuts,” said Milne. “Universities are not only critical to a clever country, but are drivers of innovation, new investment and jobs in a 21st century economy. "The Greens university funding boost will ensure hard-working university staff can engage in quality teaching and research,” she said. Milne said the funding crisis in higher education should never have been allowed to happen, especially as the Bradley Review warned it would result in a decline in education standards. Universities, academics, and students are experiencing rising pressure from larger classes, fewer contact hours for research and less course choices, she added. “Only the Greens will stand up to the old parties, ripping $2.3 billion in cuts from higher education, instead of investing in the future.” Greens higher education spokesperson senator Lee Rhiannon said their $1.47 billion funding boost proposal is supported by unions, universities and student groups. "Labor and the Coalition cannot deliver a world-class higher education system as their policies do not address reliable and adequate funding. Using education to find budget cuts leads to under-funding and neglect,” Rhiannon said. "Today's policy announcement by the Greens is a modest and necessary spend. Australia is the only OECD country where public contribution to higher education was at the same level in 2005 as it had been in 1995.” The Greens’ plan would be phased in from 2014 to 2017, applied at a rate of 2.5 per cent per calendar year.