A former Australian senator notes that the growth of Australian higher education in relative isolation from the mainstream of Australian society has found the universities inflexible in face of rapid changes in political, social, cultural, and economic values, with little understanding coming from government or the wider community. (Author/MSE)

The economic function of science to perform research and to educate and train others for technological innovation in Australia is discussed. The generation of wealth, focus of public debate, and political decision making on research policy are also considered. (MSE)

The Australian Tertiary Education Commission (TEC) report, which describes a politically preferred version of the higher education system, is put into historical, economic, and political perspective and criticized for its style and content. The workings of the public agencies concerned with higher education are outlined. (MSE)

Two important and far-reaching decisions by the Australian Commonwealth Government with regard to its future policies on education are discussed. The future of Commonwealth involvement in education, funding for tertiary education, the introduction of tuition fees in universities, and the rationalization of single-purpose teacher education are…