CHARLES Sturt University will continue lobbying federal cross-benchers in a bid to defeat a proposed $9 million cut to its budget.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Vice-chancellor Professor Andrew Vann said CSU faced the prospect of cutting up to 90 jobs under new funding arrangements proposed by the Federal Government.
Labor’s assistant universities spokeswoman Terri Butler has also weighed into the debate, throwing her support behind CSU and saying the proposed cuts would hit regional universities the hardest.
But a pragmatic Professor Vann said it was the support of cross-bench senators that would decide whether the government cuts went through or not.
“The cross-bench is an interesting group of people but we are continuing to lobby them and we met with Labor MPs last week,” he said.
Professor Vann said the proposed cuts would increase the cost of a university degree and leave students with a higher debt to repay on graduation.
He said increased fees, combined with a lowering of the current Higher Education Contribution Scheme (HECS) threshold, would likely turn students away, particularly mature-age students who were considering a new career.
“Working mothers, in particular, who might be looking to upgrade their skills would possibly be turned off by the prospect of having to immediately repay their HECS,” he said.
Professor Vann said the timing of the announcement of the proposed $2.8 billion cuts over four years to the university sector was also curious as it came just days before the government unveiled its Gonski 2.0 plan for schools.
“The government is taking money from regional university students and giving it to rich private schools in Sydney.”
Ms Butler called on Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull to reverse the cuts to higher education.
“In terms of fairness and equity the budget cuts would be a detrimental outcome for rural and regional Australia,” Ms Butler said.
Fairfax Media has previously reported the federal Budget changes mean students at Australian universities would be paying 46 per cent of their degree cost on average - up from 42 per cent.
Students will be asked to fork out an extra 1.8 per cent in fees each year for the next four years.
Fees would increase by a maximum of $3600 for a four-year course.
The cost of four-year teaching and nursing degrees would rise by $1250 to $27,800 and a six-year law degree would rise by $3900 to $71,900.
The university funding changes, student fee increases and Gonski 2.0 have been criticised by academics, students and teachers.