Pyne flags budget cuts to academic site

Online academic publication The Conversation looks set to lose its funding in next week's budget.

Education Minister Christopher Pyne says the website, which publishes news and analysis from the academic and research community, is useful.

"But whether that is a justifiable use of taxpayer's money is something that I'm considering right now," he told Sky News on Tuesday.

Mr Pyne said the publication was given $3.5 million in a contract under the previous Labor government but was required to be "self-sustaining" in three years.