ENOUGH BELLS AND WHISTLES – TIME FOR THE SENATE TO REJECT THE VSU LEGISLATION
December 7, 2005
The National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) today called on the Senate to reject the Government’s Higher Education Support (Abolition of Compulsory Up-front Student Union Fees) Bill 2005 when it goes before the upper house tomorrow.
“This week we have seen the Government put forward a number of last minute, half baked proposals and amendments to the Bill in a desperate attempt to gain the support of its own party and a number of Coalition senators who have very real concerns about the detrimental impacts of the proposed legislation,” said Mr Andrew Nette, NTEU Policy and Research Coordinator.
“On Monday, Federal Education Minister Brendan Nelson, proposed a nationwide student referendum on the issue, which was criticised, not only by virtually the entire higher education sector but also by members of his own party, as costly, ineffective and unnecessary.”
“Quite apart from being expensive and ineffective, it is unclear how such a plan relates to the Bill’s passage through the Senate. If a student vote were to take place, then obviously the Bill would need to be withdrawn and rewritten following the results of such a vote.”
“Now the Coalition party room has mooted yet another eleventh hour plan, which proposes to establish a grant scheme to assist those universities that could demonstrate that the viability of their sporting and recreation facilities was at risk as a result of a decline in the number of students paying compulsory fees.”
“This is a clear acknowledgement by the Government that their legislation will leave universities and their students worse off.”
“The Federal Education Minister can attach all the bells and whistles he wishes to the VSU legislation but it will not hide the fact that it is bad policy that is not supported by the higher education sector or the community.”
“NTEU calls on the Senate to reject the Bill in its current form, rather than attempting to consider last minute plans and rushed amendments in an attempt to push through this Bill before the end of the year.”
“The last higher education Bill that was rushed through the Senate at this time of year was the Government’s Higher Education Support Bill 2003, which has since undergone numerous amendments in an attempt to fix up the many loop holes and inconsistencies that were a direct result of the Government rushing the legislation through in the last sitting of the year,” said Nette.
“The continued existence of strong, vibrant and independent student organisations is vital to the educational experience of Australian students, the culture of Australian universities and their international reputation and should not be put at risk for the sake of the Government’s ideological obsession.”
Information and Comment:
Andrew Nette, NTEU Policy and Research Coordinator: (03) 9254 1910
Emma Cull, NTEU Policy and Research Officer: (03) 9254 1910