CAPA Welcomes Greens’ Vision for Higher Ed

The Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations (CAPA) has welcomed higher education policy announcements issued today by The Greens. “Taking action on Indigenous participation, a focus on university communities (fixing VSU) and the plight of casually employed teaching and research staff are highlights of The Greens’ Higher Education policy released today” CAPA President, Nigel Palmer said.

CAPA welcomes the long term vision found in The Greens Higher Education Policy. Other significant policy statements outlined by The Greens today include:

• Ending the use of ideological “funding blackmail”
• Reducing the age of independence for Austudy to 18
• Abolishing tax on part time scholarships
• The abolition of fees for domestic coursework postgraduates
• An annual resource allowance for every student of $300 for study related costs
• Action in Indigenous participation through Abstudy reform

“CAPA welcomes the vision outlined today by the Greens, and their offer of “third party insurance” in the Senate in sending a clear message to the major parties on the future direction of higher education in Australia.”

Background on CAPA's 2007 election priorities is available at www.capa.edu.au/election-2007.