The political tragedy of Julia Gillard

28/06/2013 by
ROB OAKESHOTT VALEDICTORY SPEECH

The Conversation    |     29 June 2013 In the middle of the 2012 winter, an influential supporter of Julia Gillard laid out for me the intricacies of the Labor caucus’ power structures, the labour movement’s web of personal antagonisms and the federal government’s dire predicament. At the end of his treatise, with a wide-eyed look of resignation and a despairing tone, he summed up: The whole show is f—-ed and no-one can work out how to unf—– it. A few weeks later, a highly experienced Labor figure with deep knowledge of public attitudes to the Gillard government and how to harness voter support shared his assessment. He’d concluded that Labor was headed for defeat and had lost the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: ALP, Life & stuff Tagged With: , ,

NTEU edXpress #8 June 2013

06/06/2013 by

edXpress is the subscription based monthly e-bulletin from the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) with news and views on what’s happening on campuses around the country.                    Call for pollies to vote against university cuts NTEU is calling on all members of the House of Representatives to actively demonstrate their support for universities by voting in favour of a motion to be moved by Adam Bandt, Member for Melbourne, condemning the Federal Government’s $2.3 billion cuts to higher education and demanding their reversal.  Read more Ear this, NTEU members Inspired by Joanne Phillips, an NTEU delegate at Griffith University who … [Read more...]

Filed Under: ALP policies, Coalition policies, Government, Higher education policy, Industrial relations, National Tertiary Education Union, Scan Main Edition, Tertiary media, universities Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

Federal budget 2013: expert reactions

15/05/2013 by

The Conversation    |      15 May 2013 Australian Federal Treasurer Wayne Swan has handed down his sixth budget, facing an almost impossible task: how to reconcile an enormous revenue shortfall with big spending promises, all while keeping the voters happy in an election year?  Ben Spies-Butcher reflects a common observation: The Budget highlights an ongoing challenge for Labor, which has tried to pursue a sort of “low tax” social democracy. Australia has tried more than any other country to target assistance, promoting equity with very low taxes, but I think we are now seeing the limits of that strategy. We can have decent services or very low taxes – not both. The ongoing deficit is a … [Read more...]

Filed Under: ALP policies, Budget, Commonwealth policies, Government, Higher education policy, Schools, TAFE Tagged With: , ,

Protest scenes

14/05/2013 by

14 May   2013     |    University staff and students rallied across the country today, protesting against $2.3 billion in funding cuts to the sector.  Perhaps 2,000 attended the Melbourne rally outside the State Library.   Lots of noise and colour and slogans - "no ifs, no buts, we won't take your funding cuts".   Serious speeches, sprinkled with what The Australian calls  "class warfare" talk  but  leavened with humour - "they want me to tighten my belt - I don't even have a bloody belt" -  "we know where the missing $17 billion is - Gina's back pocket". … [Read more...]

Filed Under: ALP policies, Budget, Higher education policy, National Tertiary Education Union Tagged With: , , , ,

Seeds of Labor’s destruction sown six years ago

14/05/2013 by
Budget 2013

UNSW Newsroom    |   14 May 2013 The GFC pulped the playbooks for new governments, writes Lindy Edwards (UNSW). As federal Labor wades through the quagmire of its budget woes this week, the government is reaping the consequences of a train wreck set in motion six years ago. Generally when governments come to power they spend their first year in office gutting the legacy of their predecessor. They express outrage that the budget they have inherited was worse than they realised. They attribute major emerging policy challenges to the mismanagement of their predecessors. And they cut the beejeebies out of the predecessor's policies that they hate. This slate-clearing exercise … [Read more...]

Filed Under: ALP policies, Budget, Government, Society Tagged With: , ,

TDA Newsletter 2 April 2013

02/04/2013 by

Victorian TAFE chairs removed The Victorian government has removed at least half of the state’s TAFE board chairs. Chairs were removed from Box Hill, Holmesglen, South West, Chisholm, SuniTAFE, GippsTAFE and North Melbourne Institute of TAFE. Last year, the Victorian government passed legislation awarding the minister the right to overrule TAFE board members to remove and appoint the chair. A spokesman for Victorian Minister for Higher Education and Skills, the Hon Peter Hall, said the move was to give TAFE’s a more commercial focus. The new appointments will come in to effect at the end of April. Click here to read the full article in The Age. Chief Executive of TAFE … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Coalition policies, Commonwealth policies, Government, TAFE, TAFE Directors Australia, TEQSA, Uncategorized, VET, Vocational education & training Tagged With: , , ,

Towards a smarter country in the Asian century

01/04/2013 by

The Australian    |    30 March 2013 In his regular Weekend Australian column newly appointed tertiary education and skills minister Craig Emerson sets down some markers. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Julia Gillard's decision to add higher education, training, science and research to my ministerial responsibilities of trade, competitiveness and assisting on Asian Century policy enables the forging of a single key that opens two doors: one to a stronger economy, the other to a fairer society. As explained in the white paper on Australia in the Asian Century, our country's future economic success will be determined by our ability to move up … [Read more...]

Filed Under: ALP policies, Commonwealth policies, Government, Higher education policy, Science, Uncategorized Tagged With: , , , , , , ,

ACPET National Monday Update 1 April 2013

01/04/2013 by

In Focus 500 editions.... 1 Apr Dear reader Well, who would have thought National Monday Update would make it to 500 editions and still be as fresh and relevant as when it was first launched? We're now 5 times older than the average Galapagos Tortoise and a damn sight faster and more sprightly! I hope you will join me in a... Read more National Dr Emerson new Minister for Tertiary Education 1 Apr Last week Dr Craig Emerson was appointed the new minister for tertiary education, skills, science and research in addition to his already-existing portfolio of trade and competitiveness. ACPET welcomes Minister Emerson in his expanded role, supported by the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: ACPET, Higher education policy, Tertiary media, Vocational education & training Tagged With: ,

The Scan Main Edition 28 March 2013

28/03/2013 by
Hands up

# 111 ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Students give unis a tick A survey of 110,000 university students at campuses across the country has found found 80% rate their overall experience as "good" or "excellent", with all key demographic groups reporting consistent satisfaction.  However, more than half of those surveyed believe paid work affected their study. And a majority of Australian students say support services are irrelevant to their needs.....[READ MORE].... Emerson endorses expanded uni access New education portfolio minister Craig Emerson has endorsed Labor’s massive expansion of university … [Read more...]

Filed Under: acer, ALP, ALP policies, Budget, Charles Sturt University, COAG, Coalition policies, Commonwealth policies, Conferences, Government, Higher education policy, LH Martin Institute, Life & stuff, National Tertiary Education Union, Qualifications, Scan Main Edition, Science, Society, Uncategorized, University reform, Vocational education & training Tagged With: , , , , , , , , , , , ,

The Australian Higher Education Supplement 27 March 2013

27/03/2013 by

This is The Australian‘s own summary of lead items in its online edition. As this is a subscription service, you or your organisation will need to have a subscription to The Australian to view the full article. Red tape hinders Asia exchange plan Bernard Lane THE Coalition's plan to send thousands of young Australians to universities in Asia may face "diabolical" problems of accreditation. Emerson endorses expanded uni access STEPHEN MATCHETT NEW education portfolio minister Craig Emerson has endorsed Labor's massive expansion of university education. Students discount subsidised tickets Julie Hare and John Ross … [Read more...]

Filed Under: ALP, ALP policies, ATN, Coalition policies, Community engagement, Conferences, Higher education policy, International, Science, TAFE, Teacher training, Tertiary media Tagged With: , , , , , , , ,
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