Government accepts crossbench amendments to higher education reforms

In the final week of Parliament for 2014 the Government is urging the Senate to pass the vital higher education reforms to secure the future of our universities and spread opportunity to more Australians. Without these changes our universities will be condemned to a slow decline – losing their competitive edge in our region and internationally. Let’s be clear: there is no viable alternative to these reforms. No alternative plan has been put forward. The Labor Party has no answer after more than six months of discussion. It just wants to play the wrecker and keep cutting. Labor have form – they sliced $6.6 billion from higher education in their last term and left a funding cliff for crucial research and research infrastructure. Today they have flagged withholding funding from universities. More of the same. Universities must be put on a sustainable footing and research must continue. That is why the university sector stands united behind the reform package and backs the government’s plan with amendments. The reforms spread opportunity to more students than ever before and introduce Australia’s biggest ever scholarship fund. We have demonstrated a willingness to negotiate on these vital higher education reforms before the Senate. The Government has agreed to the proposed amendment of Senator Bob Day to retain the consumer price index as the interest rate on Higher Education Contribution Scheme (HECS). We have also agreed to the proposed amendment of Senator John Madigan to introduce a five year interest rate pause on HECS for new mums and dads. We are now carefully considering other proposals from crossbenchers including: · A targeted university transition fund; · Fee price monitoring by the Australian Consumer and Competition Commission; · Targeting scholarships towards rural and regional students; and · An information campaign for students and potential students on how the system works and the value they get from going to university. With the support of an historic consensus of the Australian higher education sector and there being no viable alternative that will secure the future of our universities, the Senate should pass these historic reforms this week so universities and students can get on with their futures.