ALP Conference Gives Voters A Clear Choice On Higher Education
January 31 2004
This week’s Australian Labor Party conference gives voters a real choice between the higher education policies of the major parties in the lead up to the next election, the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) said on Saturday.
“Higher education is going to be a key issue in the 2004 election because it is critical in promoting an informed society and encouraging economic growth and high skilled jobs in our cities and regions,” said Dr Carolyn Allport, NTEU President.
“The education platform passed by Labor today and the commitments made by Mark Latham earlier this week to roll back fee increases and properly index university funding, signals a clear and welcome difference with the Coalition on higher education policy.”
Labor’s commitments follow the passage in the Senate late last year of the Coalition’s university reform package, the most radical overhaul of the sector in a decade.
“The Howard Government’s reforms, scheduled to come on stream in 2005, include a 25% increase in HECS fees, an increase in full fee paying places, and restrictions on the amount of time that students can access a publicly subsidised university place.”
“The Coalition’s reforms will result in reduced access for many Australian students and significant increases in student debt, especially for those who are forced to take a full fee paying place because of the shortage of publicly funded places,” said Dr Allport.
“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.”
“Also welcome is the commitment in Labor’s education platform to introduce a new indexation mechanism to maintain the value of government funding for universities, a major concern for the sector which the Howard Government’s university package did not address.”
“Australia’s 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.”
“The 2004 election will give voters a chance to decide which of the major political parties is best placed to deliver this.”
“The NTEU will be campaigning nationally and in key marginal seats in the lead-up to the next 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:
Dr Carolyn Allport, NTEU National President: 0419 349 064, callport@nteu.org.au
Andrew Nette, NTEU Policy and Research Coordinator: 0438 026 277, anette@nteu.org.au