University of Australia Online

A number of institutions around the world have proved the promise of online learning. They are delivering courses of higher quality than ever before, with features simply impossible in an off-line world.

Top international universities in Britain and the United States are gearing up to market their famous lecturers, and university brand names, to students in the Asia-Pacific region, including our own students.

While this represents a real challenge to Australia, I believe it is one we are equal to.

A number of Australian universities, such as Deakin and Newcastle universities, already offer a selection of full-fee postgraduate coursework degrees.

Southern Cross University in northern NSW, and the University of Southern Queensland, already reach thousands of students online.

Just last year, the University of Southern Queensland won the prestigious International Council for Open and Distance Education award for the world's best dual-mode university.

Those who worry that online education is second best, should ask the on-campus USQ students who have demanded – and been granted – equal access to what they see as the privileges of online students.

Done properly, online education helps us replicate the best features of traditional university teaching – one-on-one tuition, contact with other students, and access to expensive libraries and lab facilities – which Dr Kemp himself admitted in his leaked cabinet submission were affected by the increasing financial pressures on universities.

This policy will also be a great opportunity for Australian academics.

We all know how bad the brain drain has been in recent years, because brilliant Australians simply can't get the rewards their talents deserve while remaining in the country they love.

Labor's policy will deliver the talents of Australian teachers directly to the home computers of the world's students. It will create thousands of new academic jobs for Australians.

Labor will ensure that Australian academics devising and delivering online courses are recognised, and benefit financially from the use of their intellectual property.