Jason Clare did not create it but it is his now

Education Minister Jason Clare says the previous government’s UG funding model will be reviewed in the context of the accord with universities, “that we have committed to developing over the course of the next few months,” (CMM June 27.)

This will be a problem for the government, just not of its making. For a start as Ian Marshman points out JRG will not be easily unravelled (CMM’s Expert Opinion, June 14 HERE ).

And then there is the expectation that humanities students should not have to pay, as originally set by JRG, 14 500 a year for the cost of their course, while the Commonwealth contributes $ 1100 (bized and law undergrads are similarly slugged). In contrast degrees the previous government approved of originally cost students $3900.

The problem is easily fixed if the government wants to increase its contribution ad lower those of students, both by quite a bit. But it is a hard to solve if the treasurer and finance minister don’t.

Back in 2020 the Innovative Research Universities proposed a moderating alternative  to a  Senate inquiry – including varying student charges, by modesty increasing the lowest fee categories and modestly reducing the highest ones, with increases in what universities received per student place. But there were two problems with the plan. One, is that students and academics whose disciplines would be charged more would complain louder than those who would pay less would applaud. The other is that it would cost the Commonwealth more than JRG now does.

However there are other unpopular aspects in the JRG which might be more easily addressed, such as ending the no HECs for students with a 50 per cent fail rate rule, which critics say is unfair to equity group students adjusting to study. At least it would give the government a change to point to.