Minister for Tertiary Education Minister, Senator Chris Evans, appealed today to the new parliament to support the bill, saying he wanted it to be passed by Christmas to ensure it will take effect next year.
Senator Evans said it was important to restore a range of depleted services at universities, particularly in regional Australia, and cited sporting, health and counselling services as key areas.
The legislation would allow students to be charged a fee of up to $250 a year for the provision of student services with Senator Evans claiming it was supported by both universities and students.
He also took a swipe at the Howard government’s voluntary student unionism legislation which had abolished services and amenities fees for students.
“Under the arrangements left by the Coalition government, close to $170 million has been ripped out of university funding. This has led to the decline, and in some instances, the complete closure, of vital student services,” he said.
The Higher Education Legislation Amendment was defeated in August last year in the Senate, but Senator Evans said the bill had now been changed to make it more attractive and allow the $250 fee to be paid over time.
“The main measure… is that we’ve allowed fees to be treated as part of the HECS debt so there’s not the upfront requirement,” he explained.
“This legislation makes it very clear that those fees, which will be in the order of $150 a year... can be added to the HECS debt.”
Senator Evans encouraged the Coalition to review its opposition to the bill and said the legislation would be supported by the independents in the lower house.
“We agreed with them that we would reintroduce the legislation and I’m hopeful of Getting Mr Crook from Western Australia to support the legislation,” he said.
Source: http://www.theaustralian.com.au/national-affairs/labor-to-bring-back-compulsory-university-amenities-fees/story-fn59niix-1225931672226
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