The Federal Government will on Tuesday hand down the 2017/18 budget, detailing its priorities including a long-awaited higher education policy. Announced already is an increase in tertiary fees, and the lowering of the repayment threshold on HECS. The changes could put financial pressure on students, especially those attending the University of Tasmania as the student body has a high percentage of those from low-SES backgrounds.
President of the Tasmania University Union (TUU) Clark Cooley said “Students should be willing to take their fair share of the budget burden; however, this must be shared fairly and not simply pushed onto one group”
“Students are concerned with several different issues they hope the budget will deal with including housing affordability, job security, deficit reduction and environmental sustainability as well as university funding”
Mr Cooley continued “Funding for projects like the proposed Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) centre in the heart of the Hobart CBD would show the government’s commitment not only to the future of higher education in Tasmania, but to the city of Hobart and its long-term economic future”
“We’re eagerly awaiting the full announcement of the budget and its details on Tuesday, and what plans the Government has in place to help these causes”
The Tasmania University Union (TUU) was founded in 1899 as the representative body for all students of the University of Tasmania. The TUU seeks to advance the rights and protect the interests of students by ensuring the their voices are heard by parliamentarians, policy makers, university leadership and the wider community.
Clark Cooley President Tasmania University Union
