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

I thank Senator Ruston very much for the question about the open letter that was published today from Universities Australia. All Senators will have seen that, I am sure. What Universities Australia have indicated is that they are urging the Senate to legislate the higher education reforms with amendments. They are the peak body representing Australia's universities and they say the reforms will provide the new approach to funding that is needed to maintain the quality of education that students expect and that without the reforms Australia risks being left behind. They also have television advertisements that say that, with changes, the higher education reform bill can actually give us the sustainable future that Australian universities need. What their CEO, Belinda Robinson, has said is:

It is not possible for universities to continue to deliver the quality that students and parents expect under a system that remains both financially unsustainable and uncertain.

They in fact call on the Senate to amend and to pass the legislation

In fact, all of the higher education peak bodies in this country support the government's proposed reforms, with amendments—