One Nation has intensified its push for a crackdown on universities, with the party arguing its approach would put Australians first, according to Adelaide Now. The party is doubling down on the policy position rather than softening it.
The university sector has pushed back, with ABC News reporting that the industry body warns campuses would close under the One Nation plan. The two positions set up a direct clash over the future of the tertiary sector.
The universities debate is unfolding alongside a broader argument about migration levels. One Nation leader Pauline Hanson has argued that cutting migration is worth the economic cost, according to SMH.com.au. The Australian Financial Review reported that Hanson and Bank of Canada governor Mark Carney take a similar line on migration, describing them as a unity ticket on the issue.
The source material does not set out the specific measures in the One Nation universities plan, the number of institutions affected, or any costings. It also does not include a response from the federal government or from individual universities.
What to watch next: whether One Nation releases the detail of its universities policy, and how the sector and the government respond to the closure warning.