Universities Australia endorsed the Halsey Review of regional education yesterday and used the opportunity to make the case for the demand driven system, which the government dropped last year. “Australia’s uncapped system of university student places has been crucial to secure the participation gains made by regional Australians outlined in the Halsey Review. And it will be vital to enable further gains in university attainment disparities between Australians living in regional areas compared to capital city dwellers,” UA says.

Not necessarily. The government has already demonstrated that the coming cap on UG places, to be followed by case based  increases in UG numbers are negotiable. So far two universities that have secured exemptions are Southern Cross U and University of the Sunshine Coast – both regional unis.