Mandatory student fees: Coalition split as Michael McCormack says fees important to regional universities

Updated

There is division within the Federal Government over whether university students should pay a compulsory services charge that helps fund student unions and services.

Nationals MP Michael McCormack says his party is likely to oppose any move from the Coalition to abolish the fees.

There were reports on Wednesday that Education Minister Christopher Pyne plans to scrap the mandatory fees, which are collected by universities who then distribute the money to student unions for on-campus services.

It is not the first time the issue has caused a split within the Coalition: Nationals MP Barnaby Joyce crossed the floor in 2005 when the Howard government first axed the fees.

The Rudd government then reinstated them in 2007.

The Liberal Party, let's face it, are against compulsory unionism, they're against having to pay that fee that might otherwise go towards things that the people who are paying the fees don't want or need. Nationals MP Michael McCormack

Mr Pyne clarified his position on ABC Radio, saying that while the Government remains opposed to the fees, it is "not a priority" of the Coalition to get rid of them.

But Mr McCormack told triple j's Hack program that the funds are essential to regional university campuses.

He said Nationals senator Fiona Nash was also against the fees, and National Party members were "surprised and shocked" at the reports today.

Mr McCormack says that while he is not sure if Mr Pyne intends to scrap the fees, but any decision should go before the entire Coalition.

"I think perhaps it has to go to a backbench committee where we have regional Liberals, as well as National Party members, who can argue the point on behalf of regional universities and regional students that the student services and amenities fee is an integral part of regional universities campuses," he said.

Liberals 'ideologically opposed' to mandatory fees

Mr McCormack says the Liberal Party is ideologically against compulsory unionism, but a blanket approach will not benefit regional universities.

"The Liberal Party, let's face it, are against compulsory unionism, they're against having to pay that fee that might otherwise go towards things that the people who are paying the fees don't want or need," he said.

"I think this isn't so much of a funding issue so much as it is an ideology. Whilst it might be philosophically important for those city unis to not have compulsory unionism, to not have compulsory fees, out here in the bush things are different, students are different.

"Certainly in this instance it's something I don't think has necessarily been totally thought through."

Ian Young, vice-chancellor of the Australian National University, says there is "clearly an ideological view" within Coalition regarding mandatory student fees.

"I think it's been a policy within the Liberal Party in particular for quite some time," he said.

"I guess the job for myself and my fellow vice-chancellors is to be able to explain that this is not a student union fee and that it's something that is really important to the rich education for both Australian students and also for international students who study here in Australia."

Fees 'incredibly important', says union boss

Universities Australia chief executive Belinda Robinson says the fees go toward services that are "incredibly important" for both domestic and international students.

The funds are distributed by student unions to provide on-campus services, including recreation and sporting facilities, subsidised child care, student welfare and career advice.

"If they're not paid for through this fee, then there will be a question mark as to how these services are to continue to be provided," she said.

The president of the National Union of Students, Jade Tyrell, says scrapping the fee would devastate university life.

Whether it's advocacy, legal advice or student media, there's so many ways that [students] benefit from this fee. Jade Tyrell, president of the National Union of Students

"Students, whether they're distance or local students or students that use services on campus, do actually derive benefits from the fee," she said.

"Whether it's advocacy, legal advice or student media, there's so many ways that they benefit from this fee."

Mr Pyne also denied today that the Coalition was planning to reinstate a cap on universities places.

However he said the Government has ordered a review into tertiary education to ascertain whether "quality is suffering to achieve quantity".

Former higher education minister Kim Carr raised concerns the demand-driven system was leading to a drop in the quality of tertiary education.

But now in Opposition, Mr Carr argues the Government will use its review as an excuse to cut university funding.

"I have every expectation that this review is really a fig leaf for attempting to re-shape the universities, to present the universities more in a Howard-esque manner and to return to the policies that we know the Liberal Party find very much in their DNA," he said.

Topics: university-and-further-education, education, unions, government-and-politics, nationals, liberal-national-party, liberals, federal-government, australia

First posted