Higher Education in Australia: The Crisis we don't need to have. 1. Australian universities, such as Adelaide Uni right now, are facing large job losses. Bad for students. Bad for staff. Bad for the sector. #auspol #highereducation
2. The precise quantum of the federal government's contribution to Higher Education funding is difficult to calculate as @andrewnorton and Geoff Sharrock show andrewnorton.net.au/2021/05/14/the… geoffsharrockinmelbourne.net/2021/05/17/may… #auspol
3. Universities Australia states: "The sector took a $1.8 billion revenue hit last year. Universities Australia estimates another $2 billion will be lost this year - against 2019 actual operating revenue" - through loss of international student revenue. canberratimes.com.au/story/7249374/…
4. The Federal Budget for 2021-2022 is around $588bn. Estimated receipts are around $482bn. The Budget deficit is around $106bn. THE KEY POINT is...$2bn is a very small sum in our present fiscal context. #auspol
5. Committing, say $3bn, a year in additional expenditure on #highereducation in Australia for next 2 years would be a very simple and affordable way to invest in the maintenance and further development of a large and successful industry and essential public service. #auspol
6. $3bn per year is 0.15 percent of Australia's GDP. Is is less then 1/3 of the $9.7bn the Budget allocates to funding non-government schools. It represents a minuscule increase in the budget deficit at a time of historically low borrowing costs. #auspol
7. To sum up: It is a political and social choice whether the current crisis in #highereducation in Australia continues and worsens. A modest injection of additional funds until COVID-19 is behind us is sound public policy, not special pleading. #auspol #ausecon
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