News

Monday, 31 August 2020

CPSU NSW urges NSW Nationals to rethink support for changes to university student fees


Nats Rethink – Aug 2020 (PDF version)

The CPSU NSW has called on National Party MPs to rethink support for the Higher Education Support Amendment (Job-Ready Graduates and Supporting Regional and Remote Students) Bill and stand-up for regional universities, students and jobs.

Assistant Secretary Troy Wright has written to Senator Perin Davey, and National MPs The Hon. Michael McCormack MP, The Hon. Barnaby Joyce MP, The Hon. Kevin Hogan, and The Hon. Andrew Gee MP. All these MPs’ electorates have universities that are facing significant job losses.

In his letter, Mr Wright urges National MPS to “reconsider support of the Higher Education Support Amendment (Job-Ready Graduates and Supporting Regional and Remote Students) Bill (the Bill). Not only will the Bill see, if passed, an increase in some course fees but will see a further reduction of $700 million to $1 billion funding to the university sector. At a time when Australia should be investing in skills and knowledge to rebuild a post-COVID economy, we find this projection alarming”.

Additionally, the CPSU NSW has again implored the Federal Government to “urgently provide additional funding, to the higher education sector, [and] enable [universities] to continue to play their vital role in our community. In particular, that the cap on domestic student numbers be lifted and that because all universities have been impacted by a reduction in revenue because of COVID-19, that the JobKeeper Scheme be extended to them”.

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CPSU NSW – The Professional Staff Union