Jun 24, 2026 – 10.01pmA controversial new funding model may upend the long-standing market dominance of Australia’s prestigious metropolitan universities in enrolments by allowing their suburban and regional peers to sweep up more students from poorer socio-economic backgrounds.Education Minister Jason Clare will tell parliament as he introduces the new bill on Thursday that the incoming “managed growth funding” system will help young people from poor families and the bush get a crack at university, years after it was recommended by a landmark review of the higher education sector.Subscribe to gift this articleGift 5 articles to anyone you choose each month when you subscribe.Subscribe nowAlready a subscriber? Fetching latest articles