Simon Crean Appointed New Federal Education Minister

The Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations (CAPA) welcomes the appointment of the Hon Simon Crean as the new Federal Minister for Education.

“It's an important year for research higher degree students, with the Government's Research Workforce Strategy well underway. We look forward to working closely with Minister Crean and Minister Carr to ensure the best possible outcomes for the future of Australia's knowledge economy,” said Tammi Jonas, CAPA National President.

“The current university system is heavily reliant on the exploitation of a silent underclass of casual labour, much of which is made up of postgraduate students. CAPA has been vocal on the rights of casual academics and our future in the sector for many years, and we're hoping to find not just a sympathetic ear, but a serious commitment to addressing these issues.”

“International students' issues have received a lot of attention these past two years, and we're confident that Minister Crean will continue to focus on the academic and welfare needs of this particular cohort. We also look forward to him working with the new peak body for international students in Australia, to be established at a forum in Hobart in the first week of July.”

“The entire sector is waiting for greater clarity on the new regulatory body, the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA). TEQSA provides a significant opportunity to ensure quality across the sector, ensuring no student pays for a course that is sub-standard. But for that to happen, the new body needs robust governance measures and a clear organisational structure to deal with a momentous task,” said CAPA National President Tammi Jonas.