Simon Birmingham (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Education and Training) Share this | Hansard source

While the Turnbull government has very clear policies for the future, there is very little we can discern from those opposite, aside from their obstruction, their opposition and their desire to not face up to the reality of the problems that we face in ensuring the budget is balanced and that the contribution higher education makes to increased spending is taken into account. It wasn't always that way. Back in 2013 then Prime Minister Julia Gillard said:

… the number of places has grown, but funding has also gone up per student place. Money to universities is still going to grow. We've got universities on a growth path. What we are asking them to do is … to accept [an] efficiency dividend … their money would still grow, it just wouldn't grow as fast as they'd obviously wanted … .

Well, in 2013 Ms Gillard had it right, and, of course, Labor has backed down on the efficiency dividend since then. The Turnbull government believes it is a fair and reasonable way to make sure the budget is sustainable into the future. (Time expired)