BILL SHORTEN SHOULD STOP TRYING TO SCARE TASMANIANS

FEDERAL Opposition Leader Bill Shorten should stop trying to scare Tasmanians about higher education, says Lyons MP Eric Hutchinson.

Mr Hutchinson said that it was not fair to Tasmanians for Mr Shorten to come to the state and spread mistruths about the future of higher education.

“No university in Australia is better positioned to compete than the University of Tasmania when there is deregulation of the higher education sector,’’ Mr Hutchinson said.

Mr Hutchinson said that deregulation of the higher education sector was necessary to allow Australia to compete internationally.

“The University of Tasmania is unique in that it can compete in attracting the research dollar in specialist areas,’’ Mr Hutchinson said.

“But with the introduction of the new sub bachelor and diploma courses it will also mean that more than ever before, Tasmanians from whatever socio-economic background will have the opportunity to go onto further education.’’

Mr Hutchinson said that, contrary to Mr Shorten’s claims, no student, whatever their socio- economic background would have to pay upfront to go to university.

He said that Tasmania’s Federal MPs had been working closely with Education Minister Christopher Pyne’s office to highlight some of the challenges for UTAS campuses in Launceston and Burnie.

“The discussions have been very constructive and ongoing and I feel confident that the Minister (Mr Pyne) and his advisors understand the circumstances that the UTAS faces,’’ Mr Hutchinson said.

“But still no university in Australia is better positioned to compete internationally than the UTAS,’’ he said.
Lyons MP Eric Hutchinson