Stand up against university cuts

First published in The Logan Reporter on 15 August 2014.

One of the best things about being an MP is getting to hear from proud local parents whose kids have been admitted to university.

But with all the changes to higher education announced in this budget, a lot of parents with school-aged children have come to me with concerns that their kids won’t be able to afford university in the future.

After promising before the election ‘no cuts to education’, this Government has announced a massive $5.8 billion cut to the higher education system in this budget.

Commonwealth funding for undergraduate degrees will be cut by as much as 37 per cent and universities will be able to charge as much as they like to students. In addition, there are plans to charge compounding interest on HECS-HELP debts, even on existing debts of past students.

With estimates that some degrees will cost more than $100,000 after these changes, it’s no wonder that so many parents have real concerns that their kids won’t be able to afford university.

It’s not fair that young people in our area should have a massive debt over their head for education, even before they get a start in the workforce.

This week the Federal Opposition will be ramping up our campaign against the unfair changes to the Higher Education Loan Program with events at universities around Australia and an online petition.

There’s still a chance that these changes will not pass the Senate, so get involved and sign the petition online at my website www.jimchalmers.org.

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