Cash for campuses as both parties take a uni by uni approach

Pork producers, meet barrel makers

Labor promises a $300m future fund in government to fund higher education infrastructure – which is being committed fast (CMM yesterday). The Innovative Research Universities adds up which unis are promised what and records $136.25m already announced.

The big money is allocated to Uni Sunshine Coast for the Moreton bay campus ($50m), Western Sydney U for agri-business, ($20m), UTS for an Indigenous residential college ($20m), Southern Cross U for a flood research centre ($12m) and CQU for its Cairns aviation hub ($10m).

Cynics suggest this looks like “special deal” funding from Labor. Other cynics ask if this is so how does it differ from the coalition lifting the cap on funded student places for selected regional universities. But what can you expect from cynics?

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Campus Morning Mail is an independent newsletter written and published by Stephen Matchett, formerly a long-serving journalist at The Australian newspaper. The daily e-news column receives no undisclosed funding or other assistance from any organisation or individual. Subscribe