Victoria accused of failing students with Ramsay Centre snub

The Andrews government has been accused of failing to go into bat for Victorian students.

Victorian Higher Education Minister Gayle Tierney. Picture: Kylie Else

The Andrews government has been accused of failing to go into bat for Victorian students after ­refusing for a second day to say whether it would support the state’s universities in bids to ­attract funding from the Ramsay Centre for a course in Western civilisation.

Just days after NSW Education Minister Rob Stokes urged his state’s universities to consider striking a deal with the centre to offer the course and up to 40 scholarships, Victorian Higher Education Minister Gayle Tierney ruled out involvement.

In a heated question time last Friday, Ms Tierney said questions over bequests and partnerships should be left to the universities, without government intervention.

When asked what steps the government had taken to secure the funding and scholarships for Victorian universities, she stressed that universities were ­independent institutions and the government had no place ­involving itself in independent funding decisions.

Her response triggered sharp criticism from the state ­opposition, which accused the government of letting Victorian students down by passing up the opportunity for scholarships.

“It’s an opportunity for Victorian students and opportunity for the state,” opposition frontbencher Ed O’Donohue said.

“It’s an important area of academic research and 40 $25,000 scholarships would be of huge significance to those students who could get them.

“It’s the government’s job to go in and bat for Victorian students. If NSW is doing it, why isn’t the Victorian government and ­Daniel ­Andrews?”

Mr O’Donohue is the second Victorian Liberal MP to speak out in support of the centre.

As an Australian National University alumnus, he said he had been particularly disappointed by that university’s decision to bow out of talks with the centre.

“It’s definitely a lost opportunity for ANU students, but it presents an opportunity for Victoria to pursue it vigorously,” Mr O’Donohue said.

“We shouldn’t be ignoring it. We need more scholarships.”