“This is a vote of confidence in our sector and a major boost for regional Australia,” Universities Australia Chief Executive Officer Luke Sheehy said.

“It recognises our role in educating the skilled workers needed to deliver essential services in every part of the country.

“Access to quality healthcare is not a nice to have, it’s a need to have, and we know that there aren’t enough doctors and nurses and other health professionals in the regions.

“If you study and train locally, you’re more likely to work locally and that’s why this initiative is an important one in addressing the regional workforce shortages we’re seeing across the country.

“It’s great to see funding for new university places supported by investment in campus infrastructure.

“Regional universities often face unique challenges due to their location, including higher operating costs and increased infrastructure and service delivery expenses.

“The Coalition’s policy acknowledges the need to expand university campuses in line with Australia’s growing skills needs.

“Universities are being asking to educate a million extra students each year by 2050. We can’t do this without new and upgraded facilities.

“This is particularly important in the regions as we seek to open the door to university for more regional Australians. This is for their benefit and our country’s benefit.”

Universities Australia (UA) has previously called on both major parties to re-establish the Education Investment Fund (EIF), a dedicated fund for university campus infrastructure projects.

The EIF contained almost $4 billion when it was closed in 2019, leaving universities with no source of dedicated government funding to build and upgrade campus facilities that benefit all Australians.

Read UA’s 2025 federal election statement: Universities matter to Australia’s future online.