NTEU blasts changes to ABSTUDY
10 September 1997
The National Tertiary Education Union has sent a detailed submission to the Minister for Employment, Education Training and Youth Affairs, Amanda Vanstone, arguing that the changes to Abstudy due to implemented in 1998 must be reversed. The Union, which represents academic and general staff in tertiary institutions, says that the changes are unfair and irrational; and that the Government has underestimated their potential impact on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
`The Minister has already received a ton of data from institutions, educators and students on these matters,’ said NTEU President Carolyn Allport. `It’s not enough for her to hint that some of the changes might be wound back. It’s time that she and her Cabinet colleagues faced up to the fact that the whole package of Abstudy cuts is ill-conceived, and reconsidered their position.’
The submission, which has also been sent to the Prime Minister and the Minister for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs, John Herron, is countersigned by Dr Allport and the current Convenor of NTEU’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Policy Drafting Committee, Dr Bob Morgan.
`The submission makes three key arguments for revoking the changes,’ said Dr Morgan. `Firstly, the changes weren’t properly researched or costed, and underestimated the number of students who would be affected. Secondly, they have the potential to greatly reduce opportunities for Indigenous Australians to participate in tertiary education and employment, and we explain how. Thirdly, the changes will actually create inefficiencies, and in some cases could be more expensive in the long term.’
Dr Morgan said that proposals to mount a major campaign around Indigenous student support issues and to strengthen the Union’s representative structures for Indigenous staff members would be considered by NTEU National Council in October.