Fee increases still a priority for Liberals
The Liberal government continues to wish for a US-style higher education system that would give universities free rein to increase fees. If it gets its way, the cost of going to university will skyrocket.
The University of Western Australia – which champions fee deregulation – announced a new fee structure in 2014 that put $100,000 degrees on the table. The government’s own post-budget Treasury forecast predicted a 58 percent hike in student debt within two years if deregulation goes ahead.
Deregulation, combined with funding cuts, remains the government’s agenda. The Liberals want to slash university funding by 20 percent and have students make up the shortfall – and then some. We will be left with decades of debt repayments or be pushed out of the education system entirely.
In the US, student debt is close to US$1.2 trillion. Graduate debt exceeds that owing on credit cards and car loans; it is second only to mortgage debt.
The government’s proposals come straight from the neoliberal handbook: help the rich get richer, help their children enjoy greater privileges, and make the rest of us pay.
So far, however, things haven’t gone to plan. Politicians have been chased off campuses by students. Thousands have taken to the streets to rally against fee hikes. The student campaign last year helped to create Senate gridlock – the government failed to get its cuts through parliament.
The success of that campaign has added to the government’s current strife. We can’t let up and relieve the pressure on the politicians. The demonstrations need to continue.
That’s why the National Union of Students has called a protest for Wednesday 25 March.
The first few weeks of the campus year are critical to getting the word out about this rally. We need to get a leaflet into the hand of every student, a poster on every bollard and an announcement at the start of every class.
As enjoyable as the recent spectacle surrounding Tony Abbott’s leadership has been, the Liberal Party is in agreement about its agenda. The only disagreement between the Liberal ministers is about how best to sell it.
For example, speaking to right wing Sydney radio host Alan Jones last year, Malcolm Turnbull said: “I support unreservedly and wholeheartedly every element in the budget – every single one.”
In case Jones’ listeners were unclear, Turnbull further spelled out his position: “I support introducing co-payments for general practitioner pathology and diagnostic imaging services in the Medicare Benefits Schedule. I support the reforms to higher education. I support the changes to family payment reform. Do you want me to read through the whole budget?”
Similarly, Julie Bishop says that fee deregulation will “expand opportunities and choice” and “build a strong, prosperous economy and a safe, secure Australia”.
Regardless of which face fronts the Liberal Party, we know what they want – a user pays system that shackles, with massive debt, students from lower income families. Workers, students and the poor have been given a salient reminder of what Australia’s rich and powerful want. Let’s give them a reminder about how we fight back.
We need to go all out to build the national day of action on 25 March.
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Jess McLeod is the National Union of Students women’s officer.
