Unis Aus warns there is no case for cuts

Universities Australia says universities cannot afford the government’s MYEFO cut, with “almost” one in six universities in deficit in 2016 and the lowest system-wide operating surplus since 2009.

UA was responding to Education Minister Simon Birmingham’s scathing attack yesterday directed at universities budgeting and spending priorities.

“The figures also reflect the reality that – despite efficiencies – some fixed costs within university budgets such as electricity and gas bills have skyrocketed in recent years,” UA acting CEO Catriona Jackson said yesterday.

New figures from the Department of Education and Training also show universities spending on staff also grew by 5.6 per cent, ahead of the system’s 5.4 per cent revenue rise.


Subscribe

to get daily updates on what's happening in the world of Australian Higher Education