NELSON CHANGES ONLY A START – MUCH MORE IS NEEDED
November 18 2003
The changes announced today by Education Minister, Dr Brendan Nelson, to the Higher Education Support Bill 2003 do not address any of the major threshold issues that need to be dealt with if any progress is to be made on moving the proposed legislation through the Senate, the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) said on Tuesday.
“While the changes foreshadowed today by the Minister may be a start, they do not go anywhere near addressing the NTEU’s concerns regarding the excessive red tape and increased Commonwealth interference in university affairs contained in the legislation,” said Dr Carolyn Allport, NTEU President.
“The Union is particularly disappointed that there has been no movement from the Education Minister on his proposal to deny universities $404 million in much needed public funding unless they adopt corporate-style governance reform and hardline industrial policies.”
“The proposal to tie funding to industrial relations compliance is unnecessary, complicated and unpopular with everyone from the Vice Chancellors to the Senate Independents.”
“The fact that the Minister has chosen not to move on this crucial threshold issue, only demonstrates how far there is to go until we have a package that is acceptable to the higher education sector and the Senate.”
“The changes to the legislation basically leave unchanged wide powers on the part of the Minister to dictate what courses universities teach, and do not fundamentally alter the one-size-fits all framework for regulation under which all higher education institutions, including universities, would be classified as purchaser providers.”
“If unchanged, such a framework would reduce public universities to corporate-style providers competing for students and funding against a range of other public and private higher education institutions,” said Dr Allport.
“Such an outcome would not only be detrimental to our universities, it would have broader negative social, economic and political implications for the role of higher education in Australia.”
“Today’s announcement is also silent on other unacceptable aspects of the legislation including allowing universities to increase their HECS fees by up to 30% and capping the amount of time that a student can access a public subsidised university place.”
“The NTEU urges the Senate to send a clear message to Minister Nelson that no progress can be expected on the Bill until the Government comes up with changes that deal with the real issues of concern in the legislation rather than tinkering at the edges.”
For information and comment:
Andrew Nette, NTEU Policy and Research Coordinator