Following Opposition Leader Bill Shorten’s Budget reply, the Australian Technology Network of Universities (ATN) welcomes the Australian Labor Party’s commitment to higher education funding.

In his Budget in Reply speech, Mr Shorten affirmed his commitment to university funding, as well as outlining his opposition to changes in student fee contributions and HECS/HELP repayment thresholds.

ATN Executive Director Renee Hindmarsh said, “Australia’s higher education system is world class. Universities are the largest non-resource contributor to the Australian economy and a global success story, with international education contributing $22 billion per annum.

“A well-resourced university sector will deliver a more productive and innovative society, and contribute to Australia’s future prosperity”.

“The ATN has long advocated that Australia should have a sustainable, world-class higher education system that remains affordable and accessible to all who are eligible, regardless of background or circumstance”, Ms Hindmarsh said.

The ATN is a consortium of five major Australian universities; Queensland University of Technology (QUT) in Brisbane, University of Technology Sydney (UTS) in Sydney, RMIT University in Melbourne, University of South Australia (UniSA) in Adelaide and Curtin University in Perth.