[Greens-Media] Group of Eight university plan threatens regional universities

[Bolwell, Kristian (Sen K. Nettle)]

Group of Eight university plan threatens regional universities

06.06.07

Greens Education spokesperson Senator Kerry Nettle said that the plan
for universities being launched today by the Group of Eight will
threaten regional universities and regional Australians access to a
comprehensive university education.

"If university funding and regulation is deregulated in the way the
Group of Eight (Go8) universities are proposing, The Greens are
concerned that regional and outer metropolitan universities will lose
out," Senator Nettle said.

"If student fees are set by universities and universities only offer
courses where they can attract student fees then smaller universities
will struggle to compete in a fierce open market.

"The government's responsibility is to ensure that all Australians that
want to and are able to can access a quality university course. If
regional and outer metropolitan universities are relegated to teaching
only or limited course colleges then this access will be denied to
millions of Australians.

"The Greens agree with the Go8 that there should be more student
scholarships and more government money for student support.

"If the Federal Government was as generous to the university sector as
it is to the fossil fuel industry then university fees could be
abolished. 

"The Federal Government spent over $9.8 billion in subsidies and tax
breaks for the fossil fuel industry in 2005-06 whilst spending less than
$5 billion on higher education."

Contact - Jon Edwards (02) 96902038 or 0428 213 146