Greens Call On Minister Birmingham to Reject Sandstone Cash-Grab

The Australian Greens spokesperson for Higher Education, Robert Simms, calls on Education Minster Simon Birmingham to reject the Group of Eight universities' push for a two tiered research system.

"The Group of Eight universities' push to restrict funding for PhD and master's research would completely undermine the foundations of our public university system," Senator Simms said.

"A move like this is a cash grab from the sandstone universities that would entrench their position of privilege while compromising the ability of the majority of our other universities to compete for research funding.

"I call on Minister Birmingham to reject this push. Investment is needed across the board in Australia's universities to ensure they remain leaders in research and innovation - whether they are a sandstone university or not.

Senator Simms also said the new Minister had an opportunity to break with the Abbott-era by dropping the university deregulation agenda.

"Minister Birmingham also has the opportunity to start afresh by abandoning the deeply unpopular university deregulation agenda driven by Tony Abbott and Christopher Pyne.

"I hope that his new ‘open-door' approach is more than just window dressing for the same old Abbott/Pyne policies."

Media contact: Cambell Klose 0490 436 948