The head of the Australian National University's student association says an expected increase in course fees may prevent disadvantaged students from receiving a tertiary education.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Federal Education Minister Simon Birmingham met with university vice-chancellors Monday night to outline a suite of cuts proposed for the May budget set to impact on universities and students alike.
While institutions will be hit with an efficiency dividend of 2.5 per cent, equal to a reduction in university funding of hundreds of millions of dollars over the next several years, students will see a 8 per cent rise in course fees and a lowering of the HECS repayment threshold to $42,000 from $55,874.
ANU Student Association president James Connolly said the price hike would act as a disincentive for some people in receiving a university education.
"ANU already struggles to attract a diversity of students from different socioeconomic status backgrounds," he said.
"This will only exacerbate that problem and the university will suffer the consequences of a population that is lacking in diversity.
"Debt represents a liability and where the government seeks to increase that liability, they are creating a disincentive for students to get a university degree and enjoy the transformational effects that a university education can bring."
University of Canberra Student Representative Council president Darcy Egan urged Senator Birmingham to learn from the mistakes made during the government's unsuccessful campaign for the deregulation of uni fees.
"University students need to be part of the conversation with both the government and the crossbench, and we at the University of Canberra Student Representative Council look forward to communicating with them," he said.
Senator Birmingham has argued that universities can handle the cut, pointing to their surpluses and the salaries of vice-chancellors.
Former ANU vice-chancellor Ian Young received a rent-free home and a car as well as a pay packet of between $970,000 and $984,000 in 2015. ANU has not yet released its 2016 annual report on its website.
The University of Canberra's 2015 annual report had one executive, likely former vice-chancellor and president Stephen Parker, on between $800,000 and $809,999. The vice-chancellor was also expected to live on the uni's Bruce campus.
The University of Canberra and the ANU held off commenting on the slated changes ahead of Monday's briefing.
