Political curbs on student fee funds

Universities will be prohibited from spending the proceeds of a new student services fee on any political activities, under draft guidelines.

From July 1 universities will be allowed to charge students fees of up to $250 a year to support student amenities and services.
Student bodies have had their funding cut by about $170 million following the introduction of voluntary student unionism by the Howard government in 2006.

The new money can be spent on things like child care, legal services, sports and recreation and media. But federal government guidelines released yesterday state the funds must not be spent "to provide support to a political party, or to support a candidate for political office".
National Union of Students president David Barrow said student unions had been "screwed" as the guidelines did not provide funding for political representation through student organisations, but he urged the Senate to pass the bill to allow much needed funds to go to student services.

Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations president Nigel Palmer said he would lobby Youth Minister Kate Ellis to ensure universities would not have 100 per cent control over student money under the new fee.

A Senate inquiry into the legislation will report on March 10. Submissions to the inquiry close today.