Good afternoon

Tuesday’s federal budget fired the starting gun on implementing the Universities Accord, announcing that “needs-based” funding for equity students will start in 2026 and that free preparatory courses for students striving to get into university will be expanded.

However the biggest higher education news of the week, the imposition of caps on international students , was not actually part of the budget but The Australian was the first to reveal it on Saturday.

Back to the budget. It was formally announced that the government would establish its new body to oversee universities, the Australian Tertiary Education Commission, which will be the engine to make the many parts of the Accord work together.

Other key things announced in the budget we already knew because Education Minister Jason Clare released them a couple of weeks ago – HELP loan relief for students hit by high inflation and “prac payments” to help students in teaching, nursing, midwifery and social work courses with their living costs while they are doing mandatory work placements and can’t continue other jobs.

Many are breathing a sigh of relief that Labor decided not to increase the international student visa application fee in this budget (this was another exclusive story from The Australian), but there’s no guarantee an increase will not come down the track.

Meanwhile Gaza protests continue on campuses and universities are now making moves to crack down on anti-Semitic behaviour in the encampments.

Much is happening.

Until next Wednesday