The NTEU has slammed the Prime Minister’s ill-thought out proposal to award funding to universities that demonstrate ‘commercialisation readiness’ as a feeble attempt to make up for abandoning the sector during the pandemic.
NTEU National President Dr Alison Barnes said “This is another sad example of government by media release that does a disservice to the public policy debate.
“There’s no detail on whether this is new money or if it will just attach strings and add red tape to the existing research budget.
“There is nothing in existing industrial relations agreements which hinders the commercialisation of research and the NTEU would be happy to explain this to the Prime Minister and his Education Minister.
“The Federal Government’s proposal will only create a different class of researchers which will drive insecure employment for those who don’t meet businesses’ criteria but perform just as vital work.
“The NTEU always welcomes an injection of funding but Scott Morrison cannot now pretend to care about the sector when he let 35,000 workers at public universities lose their jobs over the past 12 months.
“It seems the Prime Minister and Education Minister need a little education themselves and we are happy to accommodate should they request a briefing.”
