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MEDIA RELEASE
THE HIGHER EDUCATION REVIEW ENTERS FINAL STAGES - MEANWHILE LABOR “THINKS ABOUT A POLICY”
Tomorrow is the final day for public submissions
to the Government’s seven Higher Education Review discussion papers.
More than 400 submissions have been received.
Many have been well-considered, detailed and costed.
More than 400 organisations (including three
state Labor governments) have been able to enunciate their vision
for higher education. But that group doesn’t include the Federal
Labor Party - which has been too preoccupied with its internal
squabbles.
Labor’s Education spokesperson Jenny Macklin,
today told a meeting of the country’s most significant higher
education policy analysts (many of whom had contributed to
submissions themselves) that she has nothing to offer.
“We’re thinking about our higher education
policy.”
Jenny Macklin, The Financial Future of
Australia’s Universities Conference, ANU, Sept 12, 2002
Her speech was followed by this exchange:
Journalist: “You’ve said an awful lot about what
the Government’s doing, you’ve said nothing about what Labor will
do….You say the Government’s taken out $3 billion dollars. Will
Labor put $3 billion dollars back in?
Jenny Macklin: “What I’ve been wanting to do
today is really paint a philosophical approach between what the
government is proposing and our underlying approach to higher
education…we’ll be continuing to develop the detail of our funding
propositions.”
The Review of Higher Education is playing an
enormously important role in the future of Australia’s higher
education institutions and the future of this nation.
I have invited the Opposition to be a part of
this debate.
There is still time for the Opposition to choose
to make a meaningful contribution.
| For further information: |
| Dr Nelson’s Office: |
|
Ross Hampton |
|
0419 484 095 |
|
