Testing time for Nats in the fight over uni student fees

[Violet_Crumble]

If it wasn't that Barnaby Joyce has a financial administration degree, it would be tempting to dub it the alliance of hayseeds and eggheads.

In an unlikely unity ticket, a big section of the National Party is at one with the nation's vice-chancellors to resist a largely ideological push by the Liberals that would prohibit universities imposing compulsory service levies on students.

The Government's bill to insist student unionism be voluntary is to stop money going to political (for which read "left") causes. But the legislation, now in Parliament, hits the whole service fee.

While some of this money winds up in student political campaigns, a lot finances amenities and activities, including sport and non-political clubs.

Of course if they don't have to pay the fees, many or most students won't, leaving universities to find the funds elsewhere or reduce services.

As Education Minister Brendan Nelson says, this is a "totemic" issue for the Liberal Party.


http://www.theage.com.au/news/michelle-grattan/testing-time-for-nats-in-the-fight-over-uni-student-fees/2005/07/09/1120704595574.html

[anakie]

1. I should like to see Brendan Nelson

repay in full the costs of his medical degree. Taxpayers forked out tens of thousands of dollars for his degree which, as far as I have memories of Nelson, was never used to practice medicine in any real way. From head of one of the most politically active unions (AMA) to being a liberal MP.

He wants to introduce full fees and get rid of student activity fees - make the man pay back his fees. Or at least personally sponsor a student through medicine.

[Matilda]

2. Labor should hammer the point on this hypocrisy.

I'm sure Nelson isn't the only Coalition MP who was educated at
the state's expense - I'd like to see Beazley get up with a list
and ask them one by one if they feel they should repay the cost of
the fees since they feel that tuition should be paid for.

And how many of them played on sports teams, took part in debating,
or any of the other student union funded activities?

God, where are Labor's balls?

[Djinn]

3. could be an embarrassing ask

HECS was brought in under the ALP after all

[Matilda]

4. It was - something I find it hard to forgive.

They started jabbing at the body of tertiary education, but it's
the Coalition that's gutting it.

I think most fees under Labor were around $2,500 (but don't quote
me, I'm going by what actors paid under the early HECS scheme).
We've come a long way since then - I think Labor could still run
with it.

[Violet_Crumble]

5. An Arts degree is about $8,500..

And the price just keeps climbing once you get to ones like law and medicine...

The service fees that the Libs are trying to make non-compulsory are separate from the course fees. I study part time and pay $225 at the beginning of each year and that goes to things like the student union, my library membership, etc. I'm not the slightest bit active in student politics, but even as a part time student I want to know that there's other students there who will go in to bat on my behalf if I need them to...

[Matilda]

6. Joyce summed it up with the phrase "idealogical absolutism."

Is it the use of the "u" word - union? I guess student co-operative
still sounds too much like socialism for their taste.

I really do find it hard to comprehend their tiny fossilised minds
on this one - ban spending on political activism if they must, it's
only a small part of the budget anyway, but let the other services
stand.

Another illustration of the petty small-mindedness of the Howard
Government.