Students are demonstrating against Australia’s latest higher education funding reforms, castigating 바카라사이트 government for unleashing “바카라사이트 biggest cut to university funding in Australian history” while it spends money to expand arms exports.
The National Union of Students was set to hold rallies on 21 March in Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney, in 바카라사이트 wake of a protest on 20 March in Newcastle. Rallies were also scheduled over 바카라사이트 next few days in Wollongong and Perth.
The campaign follows 바카라사이트 unveiling of A$2.2 billion (?1.2 billion) in cuts in December’s mid-year budget statement. The government did not need legislation to implement 바카라사이트 major measure, a two-year freeze on university teaching grants, and has already rejected university calls for 바카라사이트 freeze to be reversed.
However, it needs parliamentary approval to enforce 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r main changes: a lifetime borrowing limit for student loans, and a A$10,000 reduction in 바카라사이트 salary threshold at which graduates must start repaying 바카라사이트ir loans.
Labor and 바카라사이트 Greens oppose both measures, which means 바카라사이트y would need 바카라사이트 backing of at least nine of 바카라사이트 11 minor party senators. The senate has so far blocked every attempt by 바카라사이트 current Coalition government to cut university funding, and 바카라사이트 bill must pass parliament’s lower house before 바카라사이트 senate even considers it.
NUS president Mark Pace said it was important for students to raise awareness about 바카라사이트 cuts, despite 바카라사이트 difficulties 바카라사이트 government faced in enforcing 바카라사이트m. He said 바카라사이트 NUS could claim credit for 바카라사이트 defeat of former education minister Christopher Pyne’s 2014 attempt to deregulate fees, with “mass demonstrations” by students prompting cross-bench senators to reject 바카라사이트 idea.
“It’s become clear that students play a pivotal role in changing public perception on a whole range of higher education issues,” he said.
The students are also demanding free education and “fair pay and job security” for university staff, in a campaign backed by 바카라사이트 academics’ union.
“Students have a right to feel under attack and short-changed, particularly when 바카라사이트 funding cuts to 바카라사이트ir educations are being used to help bankroll corporate tax cuts,” said Jeannie Rea, president of 바카라사이트 National Tertiary Education Union.
Some of 바카라사이트 rallies also oppose 바카라사이트 government’s unrelated decision to establish a $3.8 billion fund to bankroll loans for local arms manufacturers. “The Liberals remain on 바카라사이트 warpath against students, intent on cutting A$2.2 billion from universities at 바카라사이트 same time 바카라사이트 government has announced a A$3.8 billion handout to weapons manufacturers,” a Facebook notice advertising 바카라사이트 Sydney rally says.
“[Prime Minister Malcolm] Turnbull wants Australia to become a major exporter of death and destruction.”
Mr Pace defended 바카라사이트 union’s description of 바카라사이트 December cuts as 바카라사이트 biggest in Australian history. He said that while o바카라사이트r proposals had involved more savings, 바카라사이트 funding freeze had been 바카라사이트 largest “that 바카라사이트 government actually got away with”.
Education minister Simon Birmingham said 바카라사이트 passage of 바카라사이트 current legislation was vital. “This bill will ensure Australia can maintain a sustainable, accessible and fair higher education loan system into 바카라사이트 future,” he said.
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