Minister for Science and Research Refutes Allegations of Political Bias in Higher Education Funding. (April 16, 2010)

One April 7 The Australian's Tom Dusevic, National chief reporter claimed an "exclusive" writing: THE key investment arm of the federal government's higher education revolution is monumentally slanted to universities, colleges and research institutes in Labor electorates.

Mr Dusevic found that: "Analysis of $1.5 billion in money doled out by the Education Investment Fund showed Labor seats received $1.276bn or 84 per cent of the first two funding rounds."

As Jesse of Melbourne pointed out in a comment: "Firstly - Labor holds the overwhelming majority of inner-city seats where most universities are located, and a number of rural seats where major universities are located. Secondly - Universities and higher education providers are not bound by federal electoral boundaries in terms of who they benefit. Students travel far and wide to attend various universities and technical institutes..."

Now Bernard Lane quotes Senator Kim Carr, Minister of Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, in the March 14, Australian:

Would you have us move Melbourne University to [the safe Liberal seat of] Kooyong, would you have us move it, perhaps, to Albury.

Allocations [from the fund] are never made on the basis of geographical distribution of their electorates, they're based on the quality of the programs that are being offered. These are competitive grant programs run by an independent board who assess the projects on the basis of their excellence.

All of the projects that have been funded have been through a very rigorous assessment process. It is just a silly, silly proposition to suggest that there is any political overlay based on electoral politics. Why don't you have a look where the students actually come from?

While there are legitimate criticisms that can be levelled at how the Federal Government is attempting to micro-manage higher education, this particular accusation of bias borders on the ludicrous, and casts a shadow on the credibility of reporting in the broadsheet's HES.