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VSU Transition Fund: Unfair, Unworkable, Discriminatory

CAPA has today described Family First Senator Steve Fielding a disgrace after failing to ensure that student organisations - which provide essential representation and advocacy - be included in the government's $81.6 million transitional funding grants.

The VSU transition fund and its allocation in the 2006-07 Budget will ensure that nothing other than sport and recreation are funded.

Surplus should be invested in Australia's future

CAPA welcomes the small specifically targeted funding allocation for research within this year's Budget. However, this funding in no way makes up for the decade of neglect of the entire higher education sector over which the Howard government has presided.

CAPA believes that the Federal government must invest substantial sums in the sector in order to reverse the damage caused by policy failures which have seen universities starved of funding for years.

CAPA Calls on the Bracks Government to Grant Transport Concession to all University Students

Following the successful anti-discrimination case brought against the NSW government Department of Transport and State Rail, the Administrative Decisions Tribunal found in favour of international students who had been discriminated against under NSW law and denied concession travel on public transport. CAPA endorses and supports the NOT FARE campaign in Victoria to secure concession travel for both domestic and international students and calls on NSW and Victoria to adhere to the ADT's decision.

NSW Government: Stop Milking the Cash-cows Dry

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.

RQF ignores student contribution

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 for clarity on VSU commitment

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.

Death taxes kill lifelong learning

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.

New 2006 CAPA Executive announced

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.

Ideologically driven Nelson clutches at more straws

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."

Degree restructure must include fee relief and income support measures

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.