Higher Education on the Election Agenda
10 October 2001
Tonight staff and students at the Northern Territory University will be highlighting education as an election issue. The National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU), the Northern Territory University Students’ Union (NTUSU) and the Northern Territory University Postgraduate Student Association (NTUPSA) have combined to organise a Higher Education Forum, which will be happening from 7:00pm sharp in the Mal Nairn Auditorium at the NTU’s Casuarina Campus.
The forum features keynote speaker Senator Trish Crossin, a member of the Senate Committee that recently reviewed the capacity of Australian Universities to meet the nation’s needs, undergraduate and postgraduate student representatives and Solomon candidates from the ALP, CLP, Democrats and Greens. The organisers of the forum are confident that discussion will be both informative and timely.
“With the recent release of the Senate Report, which is aptly entitled ‘Universities In Crisis’, AND a Federal election looming, it is critical that political candidates respond to the community’s concerns,” Tyrone Lynch, NTEU Northern Territory Division Secretary, and Olivia Hittmann, NTUSU Vice President Education, said in unison.
“A poll (published in the Age on Monday 8th) indicated that 62% of Australians thought that universities are not getting enough GOVERNMENT money to do their job properly. The NTEU, the NTUSU and the NTUPSA agrees with these results wholeheartedly” said one of tonight’s speakers Mr Michael Bromley. ‘This year, NTU is getting $1.5m LESS in government funds than it was receiving in 1996 – a real cut of 4.2%.
“At the same time, student HECS fees have increased by up to 120%, and levels of student income support has plummeted. Is it any wonder that people are finding it harder to get a higher education? ” added NTEU Northern Territory Division President, Dr Steve Shanahan.
“The Australian government is caught between its ideological commitment to making students and their families’ pay more and the knowledge that the public do not support this plan. The Government believes it can avoid community concerns about education, and we want to hear what the candidates have to say.” Mr Lynch concluded.
For further information and comment, contact:
Tyrone Lynch
Northern Territory Division Secretary
Tel: 08 89467743
Mobile: 0411074791