Shorten’s Unfair Student Lock-Out To Hit The Disadvantaged
11 Mar 2015
Media release Bill Shorten today revealed to Australians his secret plan to lock vast numbers of students out of university. Dressed up in the language of “quality” and “targets”, he made it crystal clear he plans to limit university places if he gets into Government.
Minister for Education and Training Christopher Pyne MP said the Opposition plan amounted to “a giant unfair lock-out from universities”.
“It’s backwards under Bill. Back to caps on places. Back to the days where Canberra decided who can go to university. An end to widening opportunity and a breathtaking end to Julia Gillard’s proudest reform – the demand driven system.
“It’s bad luck for students who don’t measure up to elitist Bill Shorten’s idea of “quality”.
“They can forget about improving their chances of a high paying career. Bill’s putting a cap on that. ”
The Department of Education analysis shows that reintroducing caps and opposing the Government’s deregulation reform package puts at risk up to 120,000 university places including 80,000 new places created under the Reform Bill.
It also found that universities stand to lose $520 million in revenue if caps were imposed at current enrolment levels.
“The Australian Government’s plan widens opportunity, particularly for first in family to go to university.
“Bill Shorten’s secret plan is to slap opportunity down. He would disproportionately lock out students from disadvantaged backgrounds and those in regional and outer metropolitan areas.”
Minister Pyne said the Opposition Leader was talking about quality – but it translated to exclusion for those who don’t measure up to his standards, such as those needing a pathway course to get in to university.
“He’s talking targets when all he wants is cover for his plan to cut university funding. Caps on places equals cuts.
“This is an unfair student lock-out that will hurt in the suburbs and regional areas of Australia.
“The Coalition’s plan is about expanding opportunity,” Mr Pyne said.
Minister Pyne addresses the Universities Australia Conference dinner tonight at Parliament House.