Marise Payne (NSW, Liberal Party, Minister for Human Services) Share this | Hansard source

If Senator Carr does not get his question in, perhaps he could skype it in like Senator Conroy does for preselections! As senators know, we have leaders across Australia in the higher education field who are urging the passage of the government's higher education reform package, with amendments. Universities Australia, the Regional Universities Network, the Australian Technology Network of universities, the Innovative Research Universities, the Group of Eight, David Gonski and many others are saying that the reforms are essential.

Recently, the Vice-Chancellor of the Australian Catholic University, Professor Greg Craven, wrote an article, 'Four reasons to back uni reforms'—and, incidentally, the ACU has recently appointed an exceptional new chancellor in the Hon. John Fahey. Professor Craven says these reforms are both necessary and equitable. He concludes:

Rejecting the package wholesale is not a vote for university equity. It is vote against reality.

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