Media release: Even the Coalition can’t agree on Simon Birmingham’s Education Reforms
21 March 2018 – The National Union of Students (NUS) and the Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations (CAPA) are encouraged by Liberal Party dissent on proposed changes to student loans, and renew their calls for crossbench senators to reject the legislation.
In the senate committee report released last week, Liberal senators took the unprecedented step of recommending that the lifetime student loan cap be scrapped.
By rejecting the idea of a lifetime loan cap, Liberal senators have dug a shallow grave for the proposed changes. However, the bill will not be buried without crossbench senators taking a stand, giving all Australians a fair chance at a university-level education.
The Liberal senators also affirmed their support for demand-driven funding, which was ended by the funding freeze implemented by the Minister for Education and Training just before Christmas last year.
“There seems to be significant confusion within the Liberal party on the demand-driven system. Liberal senators have acknowledged the importance of the demand-driven system, just months after MYEFO freezing of funding,” said Mark Pace, NUS National President.
“The senators are right to reject the lifetime loan cap, but have retained the aspects of the student loan legislation that are most damaging to low and middle income Australians. If the legislation passes, only the rich will be able to access advanced postgraduate degrees which lead to high paying careers,” said Natasha Abrahams, CAPA National President.
CAPA and NUS encourage students, graduates, and concerned parents to contact senators to oppose the legislation.
More information on the the Bury the Bill campaign and how to get involved can be found at: http://www.capa.edu.au/bury-bill-stop-government-changes-help-debts/
For further comment:
NUS National President
Mark Pace
E: president@nus.asn.au
P: 0411 606 808
CAPA National President
Natasha Abrahams
E: president@capa.edu.au
P: 0430 076 993
