_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Fears over research implications of trade law A controversial Defence Trade Controls Bill has now passed the Senate, following the rejection by the House of Representatives of an earlier Senate amendment (“amendment nine”), that would have exempted fundamental research from the restrictive provisions of the legislation. University of Sydney deputy vice-chancellor Jill Trewhella has characterised the legislation as an “attack on our research enterprise”, saying it is “extraordinary” for these kinds of constraints to be put on “our communication for fundamental science that … [Read more...]
ACCI questions VET reforms
02/11/2012 by
Australian Financial Review | 29 October 2012 The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry is losing faith that national skills reform will deliver a simpler, higher quality system for employers and students after NSW became the latest state to announce its plans. The NSW government outlined a cautious approach to deregulating the vocational education and training sector, insisting the state had learned from the Victorian experience and consulted heavily with industry. NSW Education Minister Adrian Piccoli said government-subsidised training would only be available in skills shortage areas and through approved private providers, allowingNSW to avoid a budget blowout … [Read more...]
