Sadly, rejections of the latest takeover proposals appear to be driven more by partisan considerations and the impending federal election than the merits of the case.
Australia in the 21st century should put to rest the fiction that states have a role in universities. With probably the exception of Queensland - with its extra university funding for Smart State strategies - the states have been woefully neglectful of developing and funding state research priorities.
The conservative side of politics should not have any misgivings about this erosion of state powers. After all, the Coalition started the takeover of universities and now they should bring the matter to a timely close.
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The Federal Opposition should get behind this overdue reform regardless of local state Labor government sensitivities or immediate election tactics. It's just good policy - isn't it?
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About the Author
Dr Scott Prasser has worked on senior policy and research roles in
federal and state governments. His recent publications include:Royal Commissions and Public Inquiries in Australia (2021); The Whitlam Era with David Clune (2022), the edited New directions in royal commission and public inquiries: Do we need them? and The Art of Opposition (2024)reviewing oppositions across Australia and internationally.
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