The National Tertiary Education Union put the best possible face on the outcome, calling it “a first step on the road to major reform universities desperately need.”
Universities Australia politely welcomed the spend on students and sought to remind the Government that its cunning plan for the Australian economy is dependent on universities delivering the workforce of the future.
“We look forward to more details on the Implementation Advisory Committee which will work with the Government on the rollout of further reforms while providing universities with policy and funding certainty,” UA noted.
The Australian Academy of Science welcomed the potential to collaborate with industry through the Government’s A Future Made In Australia policy, but called out the ongoing lack of investment in pure research.
The Academy welcomed the Budget’s promise of a “strategic examination of Australia’s research and development system to grow investment in R&D and build a more resilient, dynamic economy.”
There was also $38.2m over eight years to increase diversity in STEM education, but a paltry investment in AI.
“As outlined in Budget paper no. 1 (p. 201), the science system faces challenges as the Australian Government will need to address funding cliffs such as the expiration of national research infrastructure measures,” the Academy said. “Also missing from this budget were any substantial investments in Australia’s sovereign AI capability so that our nation can remain competitive.”
