Government Continues to Misrepresent the Facts About How Much Students will Pay for their Education
26 May 2003
Education Minister Dr Brendan Nelson’s claims that under the Government’s reforms to high education, Australian students will continue to contribute about a quarter of the cost of their university education are a contravention of the facts as published by his own Department, according to the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU).
The NTEU released a briefing paper in March this year, entitled Deregulation of Fees and HECS (download from: here or at http://www.nteu.org.au//policy/crossroads/briefing/) that clearly shows the average Australian student’s contribution to the cost of their university education is currently 40%, not 25%, as claimed by the Minister.
A short analysis, released by the NTEU on Monday, of the new funding arrangements that the Government hopes to introduce in 2005 as part of its Backing Australia’s Future package and attached with this press release, shows that student contributions will increase to 44%, assuming that universities do not charge additional HECS.
If universities increase fees by the 30% allowed under the package, the contribution rate for the average Australian student rises to 56%. The contribution rate varies from 28% to 105% depending which discipline a student is enrolled in.
“With a 30% increase in fees, a law student in 2005 will pay 105% of the cost of their education for a so-called government-funded student place,” said Andrew Nette, NTEU Policy and Research Coordinator. “This is a new interpretation of a government subsidy.”
“NTEU understands that it is easier for the Minister to sell an increase in student fees based on a 25% contribution rate rather than the real 40% contribution rate.
“In this case however, we really should let the facts get in the way of what is a very bad story for Australian students and their families”.
A copy of today’s briefing paper is attached here.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION AND COMMENT
Paul Kniest,
Policy and Research Officer, NTEU
(03) 9254 1920 or 0418 170 622
Andrew Nette
Co-ordinator Policy and Research, NTEU
(03) 9254 1910 or 0438 026 277