CAPA Media Releases

The NSW Administrative Decisions Tribunal (ADT) has found that the NSW Government has been discriminating against international students since 1989. In an action brought by the Sydney University Postgraduate Representative Association (SUPRA) against the NSW Minister for Transport, the Director General of the Department of Transport, the State Rail Authority, and the State Transit Authority, the ADT has found that the respondents, in denying international students access to concession transport, have violated the State's Anti-discrimination laws.

The Final Advice on the Research Quality Framework released today has addressed some major areas of concern. These include the assessment of cross-disciplinary research, and the research output of early career researchers.

CAPA particularly welcomes the recommendations for additional funding for the RQF implementation and for significant increases in research block funding. However, one glaring omission from the recommendations is an evaluation of the contribution of Higher Degree by Research (HDR) students.

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 new report by the Centre for Independent Studies raises the possibility of a FEE- Help restructure. Options canvassed include linking lending to capacity to repay, and combining HECS-Help and FEE-Help into one loan system with increased differential caps. The report proposes extending the 20% surcharge on FEE-Help loans to apply to postgraduate courses, and collecting FEE-Help debts from Australians living overseas and from the estates of deceased FEE-Help debtors.

Postgraduate education and representation is at a crossroads with campus life to face massive upheavals thanks to Family First Senator, Steve Fielding's deal with the Howard government. This marks the first year in which many student services will dramatically suffer on campuses across the country, and sets the tone for the year ahead as the Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations 2006 Office Bearers commence their term serving the needs and interests of the nation's 257,000 postgraduate students.

Brendan Nelson has further conceded in today's media that his proposed VSU legislation still does not have the support of his Coalition colleagues. But instead of withdrawing the legislation, the Minister has come up with yet another poorly thought out concept, in the form of a national referendum.

Speaking from the Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations Annual Council Meeting in Sydney, CAPA President Stephen Horton stated that, "while of course we support democratic decision making, we question the Minister's ability to allow an open, fair and informed debate on the issue."

The University of Melbourne has released a strategy proposal that, if pursued across the sector, will restrict access to education and professional careers to the privileged few.

"The proposal of a two-tiered degree system, comprising a generalist undergraduate degree and a specialist postgraduate qualification, is worth exploring. However, the implications of this proposal when linked to the current Australian higher education fee structure are alarming," said CAPA President Stephen Horton.

The Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations (CAPA) today announced that the Secretary-General of Malaysia's National Human Rights Society will head the list of internationally renown speakers at the upcoming 2nd Asia Pacific Postgraduate Forum (APPF), to be held in Kuala Lumpur from October 23rd to 26th.

Ending weeks of speculation and a year of disruption to universities, Minister Nelson's comments in today's Age confirm that voluntary student unionism legislation is unlikely to be implemented before 2007.

The impending enrolments for the 2006 academic year, the conflict with the requirements of the Education Services for Overseas Students Act, the outcry from across the higher education sector, and the concerted efforts of many members of parliament and the Coalition have shown the recklessness of this legislation.

The Education Services for Overseas Students Amendment Bill 2005 will enable universities to continue to charge international students for the provision of crucial support services as required under the National Code of Practice, regardless of whether the Higher Education Support Amendment (Abolition of Compulsory Up-front Union Fees) Bill 2005 is passed.

This ESOS amendment will exempt universities who must comply with the National Code from the penalty provisions of the VSU legislation also before parliament.