ELECTION 2004: WHICH PARTY DO YOU TRUST WITH OUR PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES?
29th August 2004
The NTEU believes voters need to consider which party they trust with our universities when they go to the polls on October 9.
“Prime Minister Howard is right to claim that this election is about trust, and the NTEU would urge all voters to think about which political party they trust with the future of our public university system,” said Dr Carolyn Allport, NTEU President.
“Parents need to consider whether they will be able to afford to send their kids to university under another Howard Government.”
“Australian students currently pay amongst the highest fees for public universities in the world and the Government’s reforms, scheduled to come on stream in 2005, include a 25% increase in HECS fees and an increase in full fee paying places.”
“In contrast, Labor has confirmed its intention to roll back HECS increases, abolish full fee places for domestic undergraduate students, and fund 20,000 new university places.”
“University staff need to make a decision about which political party has the best policies in terms of reversing declining public funding to our universities and allowing staff to undertake quality teaching and research.”
“Since 1996, real Government funding for each student place at our universities has dropped by 13%. The Commonwealth now spends more on private schools than it does on our public university system.”
“Declining expenditure on research infrastructure and training is failing to nurture the next generation of researchers, a serious issue given that 72% of academics are over 40 years of age.”
“Students need access to affordable quality higher education, university staff need more resources and support to do their jobs, and the system as a whole must be adequately funded to face the challenges of the future.”
“This election gives voters a chance to decided which of the major political parties is best placed to deliver this,” said Dr Allport.
“The NTEU will be campaigning nationally and in key marginal seats during the election to raise awareness of the higher education policies of all the political parties and to urge voters to consider the future of our universities when they cast their vote.”
For information and comment:
www.nteu.org.au/campaigns/election2004
Dr Carolyn Allport, NTEU National President: 0419 349 064
Andrew Nette, NTEU Policy and Research Coordinator: 0438 026277