Budget changes in the Mid-Year Economic Forecast often get little attention, what with them being released just before the Summer holidays.
December’s changes relating to the tertiary sector include:
- A $73m cut to Australia’s Economic Accelerator, the Coalition-created, Labor-continued applied research program, of which great things were expected, but have not happened; to the extent that unallocated funds will be redirected over three years. Maybe the money will be used to cover the Department of Education’s unspecified costs for the remuneration classifications framework for Vice-Chancellor pay.
- There is “reprioritisation” of a slab of savings in Industry, Science and Resources, including an uncommitted $102m in the Industry Growth program, and $13m, saved mainly by reducing the Global Science and Technology Diplomacy Fund. The Australian Radioactive Waste Agency loses $2m it was not using.
- CSIRO scores $233m over two years, “to maintain research capability and undertake property consolidation planning” and ANSTO has $41m for nuclear medicine. And there is more to come. MYEFO states the Government will consider future funding for science agencies, “pending further consideration of broader policy priorities.”
- There is $200m or so in new money for Antarctic research.
- Jobs and Skills Australia gets an extra $8.7m “to continue to provide advice”.
- There is $78m for “experienced but unqualified workers” in residential construction to get formal qualifications
- The University of Tasmania has unspecified funding for a continuing 20 additional medical places a year at the Launceston campus and CQU receives $27.5m over three years for a health and engineering wing at its Cairns site.
- There is a one-off $3m for the National Health and Medical Research Council to “continue to fund high quality health and medical research and build research capacity” – which does not seem much, given the council’s $1bn annual grants giveaway. FC wonders if it is related to keeping the system running, following the November decision to cancel an update to its existing grant management system.
- Despite an industry campaign for a release of more money from the Medical Research Future Fund, it is not mentioned.