Labor’s pledge to make Higher Education more affordable welcomed
July 6 2003
The National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) on Sunday welcomed the release of Labor’s first definite policy proposals for universities and its commitment to make higher education more affordable.
“Labor’s decision to draw a line in the sand and oppose outright the further deregulation of university fees is good news for students and their families,” said Andrew Nette, NTEU Policy and Research Coordinator.
“The Union hopes the measures announced on the weekend are the start of a major alternative to many aspects of the Government’s recently announced higher education reform package, which proposes significant increases in fees and charges for students.”
“Australian universities are already highly reliant on tuition fees, with only US private universities exceeding Australia’s 36% of revenue from student fees. Many of the changes in the Government’s reform package will take us beyond this point with negative implications for access to universities and the quality of education students receive.”
“Labor’s announcement that it will abolish full fees for Australian undergraduates, cease real interest rate student loans and increase the income threshold at which graduates must start repaying HECS, is an important starting point to making higher education more affordable.”
“The proposal to reduce the HECS charged to students undertaking maths and science degrees is also to be applauded as a way of tackling the serious skills shortages in the area of maths and science teachers,” said Nette.
“The Union looks forward to the release of further details of Labor’s higher education policy over the next month.”
“In particular, the NTEU believes it is vital that the policy recognises and rewards the key role played by staff in maintaining a high quality university system.”
“Labor’s policy needs to commit to an immediate and substantial injection of funding for the sector and to reversing the Government’s confrontational industrial relations stance towards the rights of university staff.”
For more information and comment:
Andrew Nette, NTEU Policy and Research Coordinator 0438026277