Universities Australia claims a big majority of voters oppose the government’s proposed cuts, especially in South Australia

With the government’s university funding cuts and lower threshold for student debt repayments expected in parliament today UA reveals electors adamantly oppose both.

An opinion poll commissioned by the peak universities body has found 61 per cent of voters across the country oppose the plan. The poll, released last night, asked respondents “do you support or oppose $2.8 billion of cuts to universities and students over the next four years?”

Some 64 per cent of voters in South Australia were opposed. The three Nick Xenophon team senators from SA are crucial swing votes in determining the bill’s fate and independent SA senator Lucy Gichuhi is yet to declare her intentions.

Strongest support for the proposal was in Queensland (19 per cent) and NSW (18 per cent).

The poll was taken 18-21 July, before Education Minister Simon Birmingham, made his strongest claims about the strength of university finances and information on university spending on marketing and salary increases appeared in the media.