AUSTRALIA

Senate blocks cuts to university funding

The Tony Abbott government's savings drive has taken another hit after the senate blocked A$435 million (US$408 million) in university cuts originally proposed by Labor, writes Matthew Knott for The Sydney Morning Herald.

The vote is the first indication of how the new senate may vote on the government's sweeping higher education reform agenda, which includes a full deregulation of fees, a 20% across-the-board course funding cut and increased interest on student debts.

A UMR Research poll this week found strong opposition to university funding cuts and increased fees. Education Minister Christopher Pyne has expressed confidence that most of his package will pass, but, based on public statements from the crossbench senators, the government does not yet have the numbers for many key measures.
Full report on The Sydney Morning Herald site