[Greens-Media] Sydney Uni VC deceptive on scholarships – fee deregulation will hurt students

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

MEDIA RELEASE
27 October 2014

Sydney Uni VC deceptive on scholarships – fee deregulation will hurt students

The Greens say the University of Sydney’s Vice-chancellor Michael Spence is misleading the public with his comments that fee deregulation will allow the university to hand out more scholarships.

“Mr Spence is attempting to rob Peter to pay Paul – but in this instance both Peter and Paul are University of Sydney students,” Greens higher education spokesperson Senator Lee Rhiannon said.

“These scholarships won’t even exist unless universities increase their student fees by at least 20 per cent.

“Even if the scholarships contribute towards living expenses, subsidised accommodation and assistance with books, $100,000 degrees will still be a reality for University of Sydney students.

“It is simply extraordinary that Mr Spence is out there spruiking the government’s agenda when research conducted by the University itself found 79 per cent of students disagree with fee deregulation.

“What is urgently needed is an injection of public money into our higher education system, so that our universities continue to be world class and accessible - not elitist and exclusive.

“What we don’t need is a cover-up scholarship scheme which justifies why one of Australia’s most prestigious universities is backing policy that will strip away opportunity and freedom from thousands of students and their families,” 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.