[Greens-Media] Abbott Government refuses to rule out further cuts to higher education

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

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MEDIA RELEASE
3 December 2014

Abbott Government refuses to rule out further cuts to higher education

Australian Greens spokesperson for higher education Senator Lee Rhiannon has called on Education Minister Christopher Pyne to rule out further cuts to higher education following the re-introduction of his bill.

"Today in the Senate, in response to a question from the Greens, the Government refused to rule out further cuts to higher education as part of the Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook," Senator Rhiannon said.

"When Mr Pyne first introduced the Higher Education and Research Reform Amendment Bill in August, the cost savings associated with the bill were $3.9 billion, however the latest version of the bill introduced today lists cost savings of $451 million.

"This legislation was always about the budget bottom line, and if those cuts aren't coming from this Bill then there is a real risk of the Government slashing higher education spending elsewhere.

"Mr Pyne needs to come clean on whether he, or Treasurer Joe Mr Hockey, are looking to gut other areas of higher education funding in order to fund their scare tactics of a non-existent budget crisis.

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/

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