[Greens-Media] Australian Greens welcome crossbench opposition to Pyne higher education plan

[Jegatheeswaran, Brami (Jegan) (Sen L. Rhiannon)]

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MEDIA COMMENT
2 December 2014

Australian Greens welcome crossbench opposition to Pyne higher education plan

Australian Greens spokesperson for higher education Senator Lee Rhiannon has today congratulated crossbenchers for taking a strong stand against the Abbott Government's plans to cut $5 billion out of higher education and massively increase student fees.
It is expected that the vote on the Pyne higher education bill will occur this evening.

"It is now clear that Minister Pyne does have not the support of the Senate to crunch his damaging legislation through Parliament with Senator Lambie, Senator Xenophon and the Palmer United Party confirming their opposition," Senator Rhiannon said.

"I have great respect for all crossbench Senators in how they have handled the furious lobbying from all sides of this debate.

"I would like to congratulate the thousands of students and staff who have been campaigning for months against this damaging legislation.

"This Bill if passed would have destroyed public higher education in Australia and consigned students to huge debts that would have taken decades to pay off.

"Mr Pyne and Prime Minister Abbott have both said they want this Bill dealt with this week - and I hope it is voted down as soon as possible so we can begin a discussion about how to build up public higher education, free from the shackles of the current deregulation debate.

"I look forward to Mr Pyne's text messages about how to take this debate forward," said Senator Rhiannon.

Contact: Brami Jegan 0487 350 880


Brami Jegan
Communications | Strategy
for Australian Greens Senator Lee Rhiannon

72 Campbell Street, Surry Hills NSW 2010
p: (02) 9211 9523 | m: 0487 350 880

http://lee-rhiannon.greensmps.org.au/

Our Sydney office is on the land of the Gadigal People of the Eora nation.