Coalition adopts ALP's education policy

By Sean Healy The Coalition has provided yet another example of how much its election strategy is dependent on hiding its real agenda with its latest "commitment" on education. Coalition spokesperson for education, science and technology, Senator Robert Hill, has listed a series of commitments including: no voucher system for tertiary education; keeping Austudy; maintaining the current HECS system; and not introducing up-front fees in "Commonwealth provided undergraduate places". It also made "commitments" on secondary education and the TAFE sector, including: maintaining Commonwealth funding for school places; giving priority to the professional development of teachers; and developing the role played by TAFE. On the surface it appears that the Coalition has reversed its education policy. Its education platform under John Hewson in the March 1993 federal election included the introduction of a voucher system for university places (thereby encouraging universities to charge fees above the value of the voucher to cover funding shortfalls), the replacement of the already meagre Austudy grants scheme with a loan system, and the loosening of restrictions on universities' ability to levy fees as they saw fit. However, a closer look at the 1996 policy reveals that it is not too dissimilar to that of 1993. It amounts to a list of "promises" not to introduce changes which are not already on the agenda. But the Coalition has promised that the deregulation and privatisation of tertiary education will proceed steadily, as at present. It's significant that the Coalition's policy does not mention certain aspects of education deregulation. These include the possible introduction of up-front premiums to HECS, whereby only part of the fee is deferred and a premium of anywhere between $250 and $1000 is introduced. Nor is there any repudiation of the current trend towards individual universities steadily introducing, and increasing, fees for post-graduate courses. Recent comments by John Howard make the real direction of the Coalition's policy clearer still. On January 24, Howard said that "VSU [voluntary student unionism] is the basis for a fair and equitable education policy". Voluntary student unionism, introduced by state Liberal governments in Victoria and Western Australia, and now being considered by the Tasmanian government, is aimed at restricting the organising ability of students by undermining their funding sources, and their ability to campaign against attacks on the education system and other student-related issues. The Liberals have tried to sell VSU as a student's democratic right not to join a student union. But the talk of "free choice" stops when it comes to students paying tertiary fees. The reason for the Coalition's back down from their 1993 promises lies in its support for the present consensus between the federal government, tertiary institutions and business on restructuring the university sector over the next few years. All agree on the need for the steady introduction of fees to cover the just as steady cuts in government funding, the undermining of academics' work conditions and the further consolidation of an industry-driven tertiary education. The fact is that federal Labor's tertiary education policy over the last 12 years has produced the sorts of results the Liberals like. All the Coalition has "promised" is to pick up where federal Labor leaves off. However, this bipartisan approach has not prevented people from protesting. The National Tertiary Education Union is currently in a protracted dispute with the government over the erosion of pay and conditions. And student sentiment to tertiary fees remains strong. Democratic Socialist spokesperson for youth affairs, and Resistance national council member, Sarah Stephen told Green Left the Coalition would only reveal its real education policy — an acceleration of the current restructuring — after being elected. Stephen, who is running for the Democratic Socialists in federal seat of Denison, cited Howard's comments on VSU as, "further proof that their agenda involves attacks on education, and student's ability to resist and fight back. "The deregulation of tertiary education has proved a disaster; the quality of education has decreased, as has access by disadvantaged sectors, including women and working class youth. "Only the vice-chancellor's committee and the business sector, which is demanding that education be even more tailored to its needs, are happy about the direction of education policy. "We must stop education from being tailored to improve big business' profits. It must be free and accessible to all — education is a right, not a privilege. Now, more than before, we need student unions to fight for student rights against the increasing attacks on education. That means campaigning against VSU and for universal union membership", Stephen concluded.
[Resistance will be campaigning in the federal elections for the Democratic Socialists, highlighting a "People Before Profits" alternative.]