UNIVERSITY STAFF CONDEMN VICE-CHANCELLORS’ CALL FOR FEE-DEREGULATION

UNIVERSITY STAFF CONDEMN VICE-CHANCELLORS’ CALL FOR FEE-DEREGULATION

University staff are urging cross-bench senators to maintain their opposition to fee

deregulation, in the wake of a renewed call from Vice-Chancellors for an amended

version of the bill to be passed in the next fortnight.

Vice-Chancellors’ enthusiasm for deregulated university fees ignores the

overwhelming opposition not only of the public, but of university staff, says the

National Alliance for Public Universities (NAPU).

NAPU was formed in October to give university staff committed to a public university

system another voice to oppose fee deregulation.

The NAPU charter outlining the principles of a public higher education sector has

been signed by over 1300 university staff members from around the country,

including Nobel Prize Winner J.M. Coetzee, University of Canberra Vice-Chancellor

Stephen Parker and over 100 senior professors.

“There are fewer than forty Vice Chancellors in Australia. They don’t represent the

tens of thousands of university staff, who, like the rest of the public, are strongly

against deregulation,” said NAPU spokesperson Dr Nick Riemer. “Vice Chancellors

should be lobbying government to fund universities better, not advising them on

what level of cuts is acceptable.”

“We are very encouraged by Jacqui Lambie’s statement that she will never support

deregulation,” Riemer continued, “and we call on all the other cross-benchers to

give similar undertakings. There is nothing fair about deregulation. A Fairfax-Ipsos

poll at the start of November found overwhelming public opposition to the

government’s plans. Vice-Chancellors are out of step both with the public, and with

basic principles of equity and social justice.”

More information:

Dr Nick Riemer 0481 339 937; Dr George Morgan 0414 958726.

http://napuaustralia.org.

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