CAPA calls for clarity on VSU commitment

CAPA calls on the Minister for Education to clarify the funding available for student organisations and universities to cope with the VSU disaster.

Last December Minister Nelson promised a transition fund of $80 million over 3 years, access to financial advice, and an assessment of the consequences of VSU.

This commitment was blatantly inadequate and yet Minister Bishop now appears to be reducing the offer by rolling some of these provisions into the Workplace Productivity Program.

A competitive funding program to facilitate some universities to take over student services is hardly the answer to the erosion of many years of student representation and independent advocacy. In addition it is unclear how the WPP can fund the anticipated comprehensive assessment of the impact of VSU.

With daily reports of services cut, staff redundancies, and closures of student organisations, the Minister has a responsibility to Australia's students and institutions to clarify immediately the funding issues and the scope of the promised impact assessment.