AUSTRALIA – Opposition party vows to block higher education changes
12 September 2014
The Palmer United Party in Australia has vowed to do “everything possible” to block the Tony Abbott government’s higher education changes, pointing to the deregulation of fees and increases to student loan costs as elements it cannot support, writes Daniel Hurst for the Guardian.
Education Minister Christopher Pyne has previously signalled his willingness to consider walking away from increases to HECS loan interest rates in a bid to negotiate a compromise. But the removal of caps on the fees universities can charge from 2016 is a core part of the government’s legislation, which also includes an average 20% cut to course subsidies.
Labor and the Greens remain firmly opposed to the bill, staring down calls from the university sector for a compromise deal. The legislation cannot pass if the three Palmer United Party senators combine with Labor and the Greens to vote against it.
Source: http://www.universityworldnews.com/article.php?story=20140911171319304
Full Report: http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/sep/09/pup-vows-to-do-everything-possible-to-block-higher-education-changes