Labor urged to increase uni research spending as budget offers boost to student unions and safety

Albanese government’s spending hailed by student safety advocates as a ‘huge step’ in holding sector accountable for student welfare

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A $38m budget commitment for a student ombudsman, a boost to student unions and a code to respond to gendered violence have been praised by student safety advocates as a “huge step” in holding the sector accountable for student welfare.

But peak bodies say Labor’s investment in university reform in the budget must be accompanied by a meaningful increase in funding for research and development in order to meet Australia’s national ambitions.

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