FEDERAL Lyons MP Eric Hutchinson is disappointed that Tasmanian Senator Jacqui Lambie seems confused about the benefit of proposed national higher education reforms to the State.
Mr Hutchinson said that he would be happy to provide Senator Lambie with more information about the proposed reforms which are going to work in Tasmania’s favour not against it.
The Palmer United Party Tasmanian Senator said at the weekend that she did not want special deals on education for individual states and that the Government should be ashamed of proposing to deregulate university fees.
But Mr Hutchinson said that the reforms were particularly positive for Tasmania.
“The University of Tasmania as the state’s only university is in a wonderful position to compete nationally (post deregulation),’’ Mr Hutchinson said.
“It is an outstanding university which has the benefit of being able to attract research at the top academic level.’’
Mr Hutchinson said that the proposed reforms would particularly benefit Tasmania’s North-West region which Senator Lambie represents.
“The Federal Government has plans to expand the Higher Education Loan Plan (HELP) – formerly HECS – to sub bachelor and diploma courses which will be of real benefit to many students in North-West Tasmania,’’ Mr Hutchinson said.
“It means that there will be more opportunity for young people to go onto higher education, not less.’’
Mr Hutchinson said that it was important that Government’s higher education reforms were passed.
“They will be of real benefit to the people of Tasmania and dovetail nicely into what the State Government is doing in terms of high schools and secondary colleges,’’ he said.
“I hope that Senator Lambie sees that.
“The University of Tasmania has a monopoly on the market in the State – no other university in Australia is in a better position in a deregulated market than the University of Tasmania.’’
Download …
2014_10_27_more_Lambie_info.pdf
Federal Lyons MP Eric Hutchinson
