Media Releases 2008

6 February 2008

Rudd Government places confidence in Australian Universities

Universities Australia applauds the Rudd Government’s move to free restrictions on Universities, announced by the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Education and Workplace Relations the Hon Julia Gillard MP in a speech last night.

Minister Gillard foreshadowed a relationship of trust and mutual respect with universities as she confirmed the Government’s commitment in the coming session of Parliament to remove Higher Education Workplace Relations Requirements (HEWRRs) as a condition of funding for universities.

“Australian universities welcome the Rudd Government’s move to loosen existing directive requirements and allow Universities to pursue their main mission, which is excellence in teaching, research and innovation”, Universities Australia Chief Executive Officer, Dr Glenn Withers said.

“We look forward to other restrictions being eased or removed across a range of Commonwealth funding and regulatory activity. Universities have been their most dynamic in areas least directed by government, such as postgraduate coursework and international student initiatives”, Dr Withers said.

“A less rigid relationship between the Commonwealth and universities which positions universities as more independent enterprises was a key recommendation of the Phillips KPA Project on University Reporting Requirements commissioned by us in May 2006, and we are pleased to see the Government commencing action on this so early in its term,” Dr Withers said.

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The Phillips KPA report is available from here

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