The Times Australia
The Times World News

.
The Times Real Estate

.

Don't just blame the Libs for treating universities harshly. Labor's 1980s policies ushered in government interference

  • Written by Hannah Forsyth, Senior Lecturer in History, Australian Catholic University

Universities struggle to understand why the government doesn’t love them.

Since COVID, universities have lost billions of dollars and shed over 17,000 staff[1]. The government excluded them from Jobseeker[2], which threatened their viability for teaching and research.

Universities train everyone from primary teachers to corporate bankers. Until recently, universities were the country’s third largest exporter[3]. Their research underpins economic innovation and COVID recovery.

So why has the government been letting them suffer?

It may be as simple, journalist George Megalogenis argued in the most recent Quarterly Essay[4], as a harsh dating maxim. The government is just not that into them.

It was this problem that led the founders of Australia’s higher education sector to build institutions to protect the truthfulness of academic research, the rigour and openness of scholarly debate and the standards applied to learning and teaching. They were not perfect, but it is worth understanding them.

Why does the government hate universities?

Some, like Megalogenis, believe[5] the Morrison government identifies its job as being re-elected rather than governing. And so politicians see universities as ideological opponents[6] rather than manufacturers of ideas and educated workers.

Debates around free speech and religious freedom[7] suggest Morrison may have little personal sympathy for the values associated with secular institutions committed to academic freedom.

Read more: There's no need for the 'Chicago principles' in Australian universities to protect freedom of speech[8]

The free speech issue is based on claims some conservative ideas are being “cancelled” on campus. One of these was sex therapist Bettina Arndt’s lecture series[9], which attracted student protests when she argued, contrary to reports[10], that women are not in fact at risk of rape on campus.

After these protests, in November 2018, The Morrison government asked[11] former High Court chief justice Robert French to lead an inquiry into free speech on university campuses.

Menzies protected unis from government

It was Liberal Prime Minister Robert Menzies — who served his second term from 1949 to 1966 — who created a funding system for universities. In fact, his reforms shaped Australian higher education.

He insisted there should be some protection for universities from political interference.

In the middle of the Cold War, which began as the second world war came to a close, university independence was a key distinction between democracies and authoritarian countries. Cruel and unethical Nazi science and false and misleading Soviet research had revealed the risk of leaving university funding in the hands of politicians.

Read more: Why is the Australian government letting universities suffer?[12]

The inquiry Menzies commissioned[13] in 1957 wrote in its report that even at “inconvenient moments”:

a good university is the best guarantee that […]somebody, whatever the circumstances, will continue to seek the truth and make it known.

The result was the Australian Universities Commission. This was a statutory body which made recommendations to the Commonwealth government for funding to individual institutions. It was known as a “buffer body”, intended to protect higher education from capricious politics.

Menzies saw non-democratic universities[14] overseas were a disservice to their nation’s agricultural systems, cultural and literary traditions and political-economic agility.

It was not that Australian politicians in the 1950s were particularly averse to universities. But the risk of political interference was clear in the heightened global climate, and Menzies was determined to put in a structure to promote “democratic freedom”.

The ALP dismantled the protections

In the 1980s, Bob Hawke’s Labor government minister John Dawkins expanded higher education as the foundation for economic reform. This led to an overhaul of the underlying structure, and financial support that was established in the 1950s.

John Gawkins Hawke government minister John Dawkins dismantled the university buffer body. Wikimedia Commons[15]

Among these reforms was the dismantling of the buffer body. Bureaucratic leaders like Peter Karmel[16] warned Dawkins at the time this was dangerous.

But Dawkins did not think it mattered, likely imagining other politicians, like him, would want a good university system.

Universities have no buffer now

The Dawkins reforms pushed universities to increased commercial behaviour. Academic leadership was replaced by corporate-style management. In time, university leaders earned CEO-level salaries[17] and bonuses. Although these were based on levels of productivity achieved by very low wages paid to casual academics, governments believed these salaries showed universities had money to spare.

Read more: How Australian vice-chancellors' pay came to average $1 million and why it's a problem[18]

Such beliefs have allowed politicians to behave ungenerously towards universities. With no buffer body to stop them, politicians are free to take out petty grievances such as increasing the cost of some humanities degrees[19]. They are also free to appease small interest groups, like adherents of far-right conspiracy theories[20] who believe cultural Marxists are destroying Western civilisation.

This risks the integrity of the higher education system Robert Menzies built. He wanted universities to be democratic institutions[21].

In the Cold War context, Australian universities were built to be relatively immune to the vagaries and vested interests of political leaders. They were not perfectly protected, as generations of left-wing scholars found[22]. Nevertheless, it was harder than it is today to impede higher education’s work towards the research and training we need.

References

  1. ^ 17,000 staff (www.universitiesaustralia.edu.au)
  2. ^ excluded them from Jobseeker (theconversation.com)
  3. ^ third largest exporter (www.rba.gov.au)
  4. ^ the most recent Quarterly Essay (www.quarterlyessay.com.au)
  5. ^ Megalogenis, believe (www.quarterlyessay.com.au)
  6. ^ ideological opponents (theconversation.com)
  7. ^ free speech and religious freedom (world.edu)
  8. ^ There's no need for the 'Chicago principles' in Australian universities to protect freedom of speech (theconversation.com)
  9. ^ lecture series (www.sbs.com.au)
  10. ^ contrary to reports (www.theguardian.com)
  11. ^ Morrison government asked (www.theage.com.au)
  12. ^ Why is the Australian government letting universities suffer? (theconversation.com)
  13. ^ Menzies commissioned (www.voced.edu.au)
  14. ^ non-democratic universities (aph.org.au)
  15. ^ Wikimedia Commons (en.wikipedia.org)
  16. ^ Peter Karmel (web.archive.org)
  17. ^ CEO-level salaries (theconversation.com)
  18. ^ How Australian vice-chancellors' pay came to average $1 million and why it's a problem (theconversation.com)
  19. ^ increasing the cost of some humanities degrees (www.sbs.com.au)
  20. ^ far-right conspiracy theories (www.tandfonline.com)
  21. ^ democratic institutions (aph.org.au)
  22. ^ generations of left-wing scholars found (doi.org)

Read more https://theconversation.com/dont-just-blame-the-libs-for-treating-universities-harshly-labors-1980s-policies-ushered-in-government-interference-163880

The Times Features

Best Deals on Home Furniture Online

Key Highlights Discover the best deals on high-quality outdoor furniture online. Transform your outdoor space into a stylish and comfortable oasis. Explore a wide range of d...

Discover the Best Women's Jumpers for Every Season

Key Highlights Explore lightweight jumpers for spring and summer, ensuring breathability and ease. Wrap up warm with cozy wool jumpers for the chilly autumn and winter season...

Uncover the Elegance of Gorgeous Diamond Tennis Necklaces

Key Highlights Diamond tennis necklaces are a timeless piece of jewelry that exudes elegance and sophistication. They feature a continuous line of brilliant-cut diamonds, cre...

Dental Implants vs. Dentures: Which Is Better for You?

When it comes to replacing missing teeth, two of the most common options are dental implants and dentures. Both have their advantages and disadvantages, so choosing between them ...

What Neck Pain Really Means (And Why It’s More Than Just Poor Posture)

Neck pain is often brushed off as something temporary — a tight spot after a long day at the desk or a poor night’s sleep. But when the discomfort keeps returning, it could be a ...

The Work of Gosha Rubchinskiy: Fashion, Culture, and Youth

From Designer to Cultural Architect Gosha Rubchinskiy is not just a fashion designer—he's a cultural force. Born in Moscow in 1984, Rubchinskiy began his career in fashion in t...

Times Magazine

The Essential Guide to Transforming Office Spaces for Maximum Efficiency

Why Office Fitouts MatterA well-designed office can make all the difference in productivity, employee satisfaction, and client impressions. Businesses of all sizes are investing in updated office spaces to create environments that foster collaborat...

The A/B Testing Revolution: How AI Optimized Landing Pages Without Human Input

A/B testing was always integral to the web-based marketing world. Was there a button that converted better? Marketing could pit one against the other and see which option worked better. This was always through human observation, and over time, as d...

Using Countdown Timers in Email: Do They Really Increase Conversions?

In a world that's always on, where marketers are attempting to entice a subscriber and get them to convert on the same screen with one email, the power of urgency is sometimes the essential element needed. One of the most popular ways to create urg...

Types of Software Consultants

In today's technology-driven world, businesses often seek the expertise of software consultants to navigate complex software needs. There are several types of software consultants, including solution architects, project managers, and user experienc...

CWU Assistive Tech Hub is Changing Lives: Win a Free Rollator Walker This Easter!

🌟 Mobility. Independence. Community. All in One. This Easter, the CWU Assistive Tech Hub is pleased to support the Banyule community by giving away a rollator walker. The giveaway will take place during the Macleod Village Easter Egg Hunt & Ma...

"Eternal Nurture" by Cara Barilla: A Timeless Collection of Wisdom and Healing

Renowned Sydney-born author and educator Cara Barilla has released her latest book, Eternal Nurture, a profound collection of inspirational quotes designed to support mindfulness, emotional healing, and personal growth. With a deep commitment to ...

LayBy Shopping