Australian academics fear that inadequate spending on higher education by the new Labor government could threaten the nation's A$11 billion (HK$75.86 billion) export education industry.
In an open letter to Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, more than 140 senior academics called on the government to reduce universities' dependence on overseas full-fee students.
'This is a practice that has led to the emergence of cash-crop education programmes which have damaged Australia's reputation in education,' the academics said.
They expressed concern that universities could be overlooked despite Labor's pre-election promise to introduce an 'education revolution'. Spokesman Andrew Brennan said universities were now so desperate for revenue they were treating fee-paying foreign students as 'cash cows', rather than providing quality courses.
Professor Brennan, who teaches philosophy at La Trobe University in Melbourne, warned that Australia could lose its reputation as a quality destination for foreign students unless under-funding of universities was reversed.
'Unless our concerns are addressed, Australia will lose what international standing we have left,' he said.