Investment in higher education is investment in people
17 October 2001
The National Tertiary Education Union today welcomed the Democrats' higher education policy as a blueprint for investing in the Australian people.
NTEU President Carolyn Allport welcomed the Democrats four key proposals - increasing operating grant funding by 20% over three years, reforming HECS, improving student income support and ensuring funding mechanisms which support a diverse range of student and community needs.
`The Democrats' policy reflects the idea that expenditure on education is an investment in our future,' said Dr Allport . `As Rupert Murdoch said in his Keith Murdoch Oration last week, 70% of a nation's wealth is contained within its people - its human capital. Our capacity to develop that human capital will make the difference to how well Australia fares in the years ahead.'
`John Howard is fond of saying that he is the best leader in uncertain times. Well, uncertain times demand a well-educated people, able to weather changes in the global economy and able to understand the cultural and social issues which affect our lives. We need political leaders who understand that, and who will increase investment in education.'
`These issues are clearly core priorities for any Government. While the Democrats' proposals would require substantial investment, they would still not restore funding to the higher education sector to where it was in 1996. A billion dollars has been taken out of university budgets since then, and students and their families are paying the price. Clearly, a long-term plan is needed.
`I look forward to further information about how the Democrats would implement these priorities, and challenge other political parties to put their plans for higher education on the table.'