CAPA Welcomes ALP Announcements for Education and Research

The Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations (CAPA) has been impressed by the release of the Australia Labor Party’s Higher Education plan today, coming off the back of the similarly progressive policy from the Greens. “The ALP and Greens are showing due regard for the contributions Higher Education makes to national research and innovation, and CAPA is hearted by the dedications to progress both parties are planning” CAPA National Secretary John Nowakowski stated. “As one of the major industries of Australia, education needs to remain at the forefront of policy.”

The plans released today by the ALP reiterate a range of important measures, including extending Youth Allowance and Austudy to all Masters by coursework students, a reform for which CAPA has been advocating for many years. There is a firm commitment to continue extending access to Higher Education for students from low socioeconomic backgrounds, as well as ensuring the University ‘experience’ is afforded to all students.

Critically for many Higher Degree Research students, the ALP has also expressed determination to create viable career paths into academia to ensure that there is the potential to pursue research and development for years to come, a plan CAPA supports.

Conversely, CAPA was disappointed by the proposed savings by the Coalition, which include reducing prospects for students from low socioeconomic backgrounds. CAPA National Secretary, John Nowakowski, commented, “The Coalition’s costings suggests more than $2.2Billion in cuts to education, which will harm students across Australia. Reduced funding and support for so many deserving students was a common sentiment under the Howard Government, and we would hate to see a return to increased numbers of disempowered and disadvantaged students.”

“The Coalition also has no Higher Education Policy, which suggests that they have little regard for the contributions made by higher education to the country,” John Nowakowski continued, “where growth in funding under the current Government has reflected recognition of the contributions made.”

Under the costings released late last night by the Coalition, $227 Million would be cut from the low SES Participation Equity programme over 4 years, which assists students in accessing University and other tertiary education. There are also cuts proposed to the Education Investment Fund and the Education budget as a whole. Furthermore, only a total investment of $255M is committed to Innovation, Industry, Science and Research.

Overall, the Coalition’s Cuts will affect more than 200,000 University students, and reduced funding for Innovation and Research will reduce participation with PhD and other higher degree research programmes.

“CAPA invites all Postgraduates to consider the future of the nation when they vote this weekend, and hopes that the successful candidates are able to recognise the importance of education, science, and research to the continued growth of Australia” concluded John Nowakowski

CAPA's priorities for the 2010 Federal Election are available from the CAPA website at
www.capa.edu.au/federal-election-2010.

Media contact – CAPA National Secretary John Nowakowski 0447 251 131 or natsec@capa.edu.au.