“A workforce for now and for the future”  was a big message in the budget – the government meant training not higher education

And there was $1.3bn more research – as in the Medical Research Future Fund.  Plus research got a mention in the $2bn Regional Accelerator Programme,  which includes, skills and training, R&D and education. But the only mention in the Treasurer’s speech, sounded like a reference to the  previously announced research commercialisation scheme.

Overall there was money for many interest groups – but not universities, which with an  election imminent manifestly do not interest the government.

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