Union launches “Vote Smart” campaign backing Greens in the Senate

Today Senator Peter Whish-Wilson joined University of Tasmania (UTAS) students and employees for the launch of the National Tertiary Education Union’s (NTEU) “vote smart” campaign against cuts to higher education.

“Australia’s universities are under increasing pressure from decades of underfunding by both Labor and the Coalition,” said Senator Peter Whish-Wilson.

“A society that cares for its future invests in education, rather than imposing budget cuts on universities.

“We need a visionary approach to the university sector that emphasises the importance of education in society and for a globally competitive economy.

“Labor’s cuts to higher education in Tasmania put up to 150 jobs and $10 million per annum at risk.

“And today, Tony Abbott is here in Tasmania talking about jobs but what he needs to answer is does he reject these cuts that threaten university jobs across the state?

“The Greens are proud to support and be supported by the NTEU at this election,” Senator Whish-Wilson concluded.

“UTAS pumps about $500 million into the local economy every year and employs over 2,700 academic and professional staff directly,” said Dr. John Kenny, Secretary, Tasmanian Division of the NTEU.

“With nearly 30,000 students enrolled, indirectly UTAS provides work for many more in the community.

“The only party to oppose these cuts are the Greens,” Dr. Kenny concluded.

“We’ve seen class sizes rise – they have nearly doubled in the last 10 years and that is not a way to deliver quality education,” said Dr. Andrew E. Fluck from the Faculty of Education at UTAS.

“If we want to keep our international reputation and attract more customers we need to increase funding for higher education, not cut it,” Dr. Fluck concluded.

The NTEU “Vote Smart” campaign is online at http://www.votesmart.org.au.
Senator Peter Whish-Wilson Australian Greens Senator for Tasmania