An ‘exciting advance’ or ‘poor public policy’? Australian universities divided over new $10bn fund

The new $10bn Higher Education Future Fund has been criticised by the University of Sydney. Photograph: Carly Earl/The Guardian

Engineering student James Bow is used to commuting. Every day he makes a two-hour return trip, driving from his home in Campbelltown to the University of Wollongong.

“I start at 8am and get back home as late as 8pm,” he said. “I struggle with tiredness and the petrol costs are high. But my motivation to succeed hasn’t changed.”