The Prime Minister, John Howard, swept aside backbench protests and announced faster than a speeding bullet that the Government would take up the Opposition Leader, Mark Latham's plan to reform the superannuation scheme for federal MPs which is perceived as overly generous by a voting public. The Federal Treasurer, Peter Costello, declaring the day before the PM's announcement that the Latham proposal was a populist political stunt was left looking like he was drifting in a canoe without a paddle, although backbenchers as well as "middle parliamentary management" were hardly falling over themselves to endorse the scaping of the superannuation pact that Labor and the Coalition had agreed decades ago.

State premiers fell over themselves in the rush of "me to". But it's by no means clear just what is being proposed. The legislation has yet to be drafted. Will parliamentarians have their salaries increased to compensate for the reduction in superannuation payouts; will John Howard match Opposition Leader, Mark Latham's promise to cut his own superannuation entitlements; and what of the entitlements coming to senior ministers other than the prime minister?

And although thousands of words have seen the light of media print and been spoken on television and radio, we've got no idea of how much money we're talking about. Once the legislation is written, amended, passed and implemented what will be the annual savings for the benighted taxpayer.

Meanwhile, at a much lower level of discussion, are available places and fees at our universities and how university administrations will cover all bases now that Labor is beginning to look like it may be a credible alternative. Even Jenny Macklin is being given a few seconds video bite saying if Labor gets in, full fee paying places will be axed and HECS will not be increased.

Now the Australian Education Union has launched a $1 million national television ad as part of a $3 million campaign  to pressure the conservative coalition regarding what it sees are the iniquities in how the federal government disproportionally supports non-governmental schools. The timing of the campaign suggests to some that the Prime Minister, John Howard's recent swipe at public schools' teachers not teaching proper values to students was just about the last straw more especially because upon being asked for details he was less than forthcoming with details.

On the other hand when it comes to matters of the foundations of the knowledge economy what you strike is a collective yawn. Stifled perhaps, but the disinterest shows all too clearly behind the covering hand. "So my son or daughter doesn't go to a university comparable to Cambridge, so what? So Melbourne Uni comes in as number 92 in the world, it's good enough as long as he's gone to Scotts or Kings."

To many voters the quality of the education dispensed is of secondary importance. This coupled with the fact that the training of a new generation of researchers and academics is remote from the interests, let alone the day to day experiences of the vast majority of the population, and offers no immediate tangible gain, is an superb milieu for a government continuing to transform the nation's universities in to advanced vocational training centres.

Does it matter? Well, the arguments of the nation's standing in the world, the demise of its appreciation of matters cultural, the importance of basic research to underpin applied research, development and innovation, have all been trotted out to underpin the argument for our universities as being a good thing but clearly with no significant affect on Australian  governments federal or state. It is not a matter of electoral consequence - end of story.

Got another argument?

How about a first-rate crass one.

Q:  Who has the top research universities in the world?

A:   8  of the top 10 are in the US

     20 of the top 27 are in the US

     35 of the top 50 are in the US

Q: What is the per capita GDP for the US?

A:  As purchasing power parity - US$36,300

Q: What is the per capita GDP for Australia?

A: As purchasing power parity - US$26,900

Australia's top university ranks 49^th (ANU)

Australia's second placed university ranks 92^nd (Melbourne)

Q: Does any other nation come close to the US in per capita GDP

A: Not really. 2^nd is Iceland with US$30,200, equal 3^rd Canada and Ireland US$29,300

Q: Does the US distribute its wealth outrageously disproportionately?

A: Yes.

Q. Does Australia need to do so?

A: No -- whether or not it would is open to question.

Just maybe it might be good business and good politics for this nation to revitalise its universities, starting now, but it would take longer than a three-year term in office.

Alex Reisner

The Funneled Web