NTEU concerned by Tierney’s suggestion that Research funding be used to offset VSU
14 May 1999
The National Tertiary Education Union has expressed concern at comments made by Senator John Tierney regarding universities using research grants to fund student services which will be lost if proposed VSU legislation is passed. Senator Tierney, the chair of the current Senate inquiry into the VSU legislation, told radio station JJJ that other sources of funding such as overseas student fees and research grants could be used to fund student services in the absence of a universal contribution by students.
\"Is Senator Tierney serious in suggesting that scarce research funding should be used to fund student support services?\", Dr Carolyn Allport, NTEU President said. \"This is an appalling solution to a problem which need not even exist. The simple solution is for the government to withdraw its legislation and turn its attention to the issues which staff and students really care about- like addressing funding to support enterprise bargaining or increasing the level at which students repay their fees to a realistic level.\"
\"This suggestion is extremely disturbing given that it comes from the chair of the Senate inquiry. This is the person in charge of a critical report, however his comments suggest that he has very little grasp of the seriousness of the situation. Having received nearly 300 submissions and heard seven and a half hours of evidence, we would have hoped that he would have acquired a better understanding of the serious implications of his Government’s legislation.\"
\"The NTEU gave evidence to the Senate Committee on Friday about our concerns that the introduction of VSU would effectively constitute a further cut to university funding. Rather than attempting to allay these fears, Senator Tierney has given staff and students every reason to believe that the Government is happy to endorse a policy which further reduces funding for teaching and research.\"