NTEU AND MUGSU LAUNCH JOINT CAMPAIGN AROUND ELECTION 2004
NTEU and the Monash University Gippsland Student Union (MUGSU) have launched a joint campaign to highlight higher education issues facing people in the marginal seat of Gippsland, in the lead-up to the 9 October federal election.
The campaign will focus on the increasing cost of a university degree and the increasing shortage of university places for Gippsland students. One of the campaign’s highlights will be a television advertisement with the theme ‘University places on merit not money’, which will run on regional television stations over the next four weeks.
“The Howard Government’s changes to the higher education system mean that students will be forced to pay 25% extra in HECS fees from 2005,” MUGSU Education Vice-President Sean McLoughlin said.
"The greater proportion of Gippsland students come from low socio-economic areas. The Government’s FEE-HELP ‘alternative’ of a full-fee paying degree costing more than $100,000 just isn’t a realistic option. Increasing the cost of a degree will make it that much harder for many Gippslanders to contemplate going to university."
“Focus groups conducted by the NTEU in Gippsland show deep concern, especially amongst parents, about the rising costs of higher education and mounting levels of student debt,” NTEU Gippsland Branch spokesperson Philip Dearman said.
“A shortfall in government funding was a contributing factor in the closure of Monash University Gippsland’s Engineering faculty last year. Last week Monash announced it intended cutting Arts courses by 20%, further threatening university staff’s jobs as well as opportunities for students in the Gippsland region.”
“Questions must be asked of Gippsland’s sitting MP, Science Minister Peter McGauran, about what he is doing to increase higher education opportunities for his constituents. As a key member of the Education portfolio he has overseen the fee increases that will make it harder for people in his electorate to go to university, especially given their income levels.”
NTEU and MUGSU plan to hold community forums in Gippsland in the coming weeks, where local candidates will be challenged to outline their parties’ higher education policies. Community stalls and other activities will also be held at the region’s major shopping centres to provide information to voters about the costs of higher education.
“The Howard Government’s changes are unfair and unaffordable for most Australians. If they are allowed to happen they will threaten the important principle that getting into university should be about merit not money.”
For further information & comment:
Philip Dearman, 0409 682 622
Sean McLoughlin, 0412 989 227
Matthew McGowan, 0417 054 110 (NTEU Vic Division Secretary)
More information is also available from www.nteu.org.au/campaigns/election2004, including an Mpeg version of the NTEU advertisement.