In October 2015, Education Minister Simon Birmingham revealed a proposal that would cut funding to universities and deregulate the fees that they charge students. The Parliamentary Budget Office estimated that tuition fees would increase by 40% if universities were allowed to set them without government regulation. Proponents, including Mr. Birmingham, argue that the cost of university funding has grown at twice the rate of the economy since 2009. Opponents argue that the PBO’s estimate of 40% is too low and tuition fees will easily double or triple if the government ceases to regulate them.
Statistics are shown for this demographic
Local Government Area
State Electorate
Response rates from 312 E-Democracy voters.
24% Yes |
76% No |
23% Yes |
58% No |
1% Yes, and end government funding for universities |
18% No, and univerisity education should be free for all citizens |
Trend of support over time for each answer from 312 E-Democracy voters.
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Trend of how important this issue is for 312 E-Democracy voters.
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Unique answers from E-Democracy voters whose views went beyond the provided options.
@4TDPJSC4yrs4Y
Capable students should be on scholarships. Everyone else should find another path in life.
@4T4F9RK4yrs4Y
Yes, I am sick of people in Australia having this entitlement that they expect the government to aid them.
@4T764V54yrs4Y
Maintain University funding for Australian born citizens but allow the universities to set fees for international students.
@4SYRJM34yrs4Y
Yes but the reduction should be on their inflated bureaucratic level.
@4T94L6M4yrs4Y
ALL schools, colleges, universities should run by Christian churches, industry associations & be free in exchange for national service.
@4T4NZD64yrs4Y
top 10% of students get free education. The rest can pay what the universities deem fair.
@9ZL34PS1wk1W
No, and univerisity education should be free for all citizens only for useful degrees like STEM degrees and only for the first degree a person undertakes and only if they complete that degree.
@9ZL2F2J1wk1W
No, and university fees should be free for those who show they are serious about their academics and can't afford it.
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