Ask What Are "The Costs and Benefits of the ERA". (December 14, 2012)

Jeannie Rea, president of the National Tertiary Education Union, in speaking with The Australian's Bernard Lane said a review should look at the costs and benefits of the ERA, including its effect on the kind and breadth of research being pursued in the sector, its consequences for women academics, and any other unintended outcomes. And went on to say that a broader issue was the cost of university accountability and reporting for a host of programs, including the ERA and the national competitive grants system: "The universities have to invest more and more resources in accountability to government rather than getting on and spending the money wisely. It's just going round and round in circles."

And then she concluded that a review including the ERA was a reasonable idea now that it had reached its second round.