The Mitchell Institute report on 2016 public expenditure in all education sectors is due on Thursday, very convenient for anybody after ammunition to use against cuts in MYEFO, expected on Monday.

MI analysts Kate Torrii and Megan O’Connell say their report “shows some stages of education have been clearly prioritised over others.”  Given the huge increase in HE expenditure, up 45 per cent in the decade to 2014-15, perhaps Education Minister Simon Birmingham will be one of the people quoting their work to justify cutting universities.