Opinion

John Tierney writes: University funding crisis endangers research and economic recovery

By John Tierney
August 5 2020 - 7:00am
CUTS: University Vice Chancellor Alex Zelinksy during a presentation to staff outlining income loss due to COVID-19.
CUTS: University Vice Chancellor Alex Zelinksy during a presentation to staff outlining income loss due to COVID-19.

The pandemic has created for Australia, an existential crisis. The last time our country was in such a dire predicament was during World War II. Back then, with our sea lanes suddenly blocked by German and Japanese U-boats, our 1940s economy became highly vulnerable. There were massive shortages of vital supplies. Following the war, there was a switch in government policy to develop greater economic independence. To support the expansion of industry, Australia's research capabilities were turbocharged through the government establishing the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) and the ANU research university.

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