Labor’s John Dawkins joins chorus of support for higher education reform

Former Labor Education Minister and Treasurer, the Hon John Dawkins AO, who transformed the university system in Australia under the Hawke Government has joined a growing consensus of higher education experts in support of the Government’s plan to deregulate universities.

The Minister for Education and Training, the Hon Christopher Pyne MP welcomed Mr Dawkins’ comments today in support of reform and appealed to Labor to listen to the chorus of calls to work constructively with the Government to achieve a positive outcome for universities.

“Reform is vital, urgent and cannot wait. The new higher education Bill introduced at the end of last year offers the largest ever scholarship scheme to people from all walks of life. It makes the current HECS system even better. It continues to expand HECS to more students and also offers a five year freeze to HECS indexation for the primary carer of a newborn,” Mr Pyne said.

“Labor has been caught out playing cheap politics with this, a policy area they were once proud of. History will condemn them for opposing this important reform that is supported by more and more people aligned with, and even within, the Labor Party.

“I will write to Bill Shorten today and ask him to heed the calls across the country and come to the negotiating table,” he said.

Former senior members of the Hawke and Keating Governments including Gareth Evans and now Mr Dawkins recognise the necessity of these changes and tell us openly they are appealing to the Labor Opposition to listen. Other Labor figures such as Maxine McKew and their own shadow assistant treasurer Andrew Leigh are supporters of deregulation.

The Government will continue to negotiate with cross benchers and outline the benefits of reform.

“The higher education sector wholeheartedly support the package. We are steadfast in our commitment to expanding opportunity for more students which is the core of these reforms,” Mr Pyne said.