7 years ago
LIBERALS’ UNI PLAN SLAMMED
THE HON TANYA PLIBERSEK MP TERRI BUTLER MP
Universities have come out in force today to oppose the Liberals unfair higher education policies.
The Liberals want to cut uni funding, jack up student fees, and have lower income earners pay back HELP debts sooner.
Universities say this will seriously affect education quality, and deter people from going to uni.
The Liberals’ policies will be particularly bad for students from disadvantaged backgrounds, including mature age students, most of whom are women.
Students in rural and regional areas will also be hit hard. Will the Nationals stand up for their communities and oppose the policies being pushed by the Liberals?
“…particularly it will potentially deter mature-age students. As I said, they’re the ones who are juggling work, family commitments, and often studying online or part-time…”
“But it's also students from low socio-economic backgrounds, potentially school leavers, who may also think twice.”
“…if what you want to do is increase participation, these changes are potentially going to have a negative effect.”
“And as well as the increased student contribution, I think one of the more significant measures is also the proposal to lower the threshold for repayment of loan debts.”
“Now, this will have a huge impact, potentially, on low-income families...”
Executive Director of the Regional Universities Network, Caroline Perkins.
(Central Queensland University, Federation University Australia, Southern Cross University, University of New England, University of Southern Queensland, University of the Sunshine Coast).
"The changes are described variously as modest, they're not modest at all.”
“The financial impact on the university sector will be profound.”
“[It] will have a negative impact on the quality of the education that…can be provided.”
Chair of Innovative Research Universities, Colin Stirling.
(Charles Darwin University, James Cook University, Griffith University, La Trobe University, Flinders University and Murdoch University).
While the Liberals are giving tax cuts to big businesses and millionaires, they want students to pay more for uni, get bigger uni debts, and pay them back sooner.
Their priorities are all wrong.