It has another, much more substantial report coming out in December, with longer-term structural changes designed to give universities a blueprint for the next 30 years.
Mr Clare told the National Press Club a levy could act "a bit like a sovereign wealth fund" and earnings from the wealthiest institutions could be redistributed across the sector for things like research, infrastructure or even student housing. "Let's look into it. I think it's important to examine ideas. Its multi-dimensional. I'm keen to see that things aren't ruled out before we look into them," Professor Zelinsky told the ABC.
That structural issue is one universities have long hoped governments will bridge and the report acknowledged the "unsustainability" of these arrangements. This would see universities that attract students from these backgrounds given more money, as it's recognised those students will need extra support to ensure they finish their degrees.Currently, all universities receive the same funding with the money distributed by discipline, such as engineering or medicine.