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> C A P A
>
> Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations Inc.
>
> ELECTION GUIDE FOR POSTGRADUATES
>
> 12 February, 1996 Issue No.1
>
> INTRODUCTION
>
> A Federal election has been called for March 2, 1996. The choice you
> make at the ballot will directly affect your immediate future as a
> postgraduate. Further, postgraduates, as producers of knowledge and as
> highly skilled workers, will play a strategic part in the future of
> our information based economy and society. Accordingly, decisions that
> affect postgraduates will also affect Australia's future. In comparing
> the policies of the parties on the basis of how they will affect us as
> postgraduate students CAPA has found some gaps, some similarities and
> a number of stark contrasts. Most strikingly, who holds power in the
> House of Representatives and in the Senate will determine if
> postgraduates will continue to be represented at the university and at
> the national level. CAPA believes that without this representation
> postgraduates will be severley, immediately and adversely affected.
>
> The Election Guide itself is based on the most recent policy documents
> for each of the parties. The Australian Labor Party are expected to
> release and updated version of their education policy soon. The
> Liberal Party haven't released their policy yet, but once again, are
> expected to do so soon. The comments on Liberal policy in the Guide
> are taken from a number of press releases, speeches and written
> responses from Senator Robert Hill, the Shadow Minister for Education.
>
> It is vital that you think seriously about your options in the
> election, and how your vote might affect postgraduates. Discuss it
> with your peers, contact your postgraduate association, and talk to
> your local member if you've got any questions. Contact the CAPA
> office, and we'll keep you updated on further policy releases. Most
> importantly, you need to be able to make informed and educated
> decision in the election. We hope this Election Guide helps you to do
> it.
>
> POSTGRADUATE REPRESENTATION
>
> ALP
>
> The Federal ALP Government has protected postgraduate associations and
> CAPA from the anti-student union policies of the Victorian, Western
> Australian and Tasmanian Liberal or (Liberal and National Party
> Coalition) State Governments, through its SOS program. The ALP is
> committed to continuing this support and will extend it, should
> governments in other Australian States or Territories seek to
> introduce anti-student union legislation.
>
> DEMOCRATS
>
> The Democrats supported the introduction of the SOS program, and
> oppose anti-student union legislation (generally known as VSU). They
> have committed themselves to the protection of student organisations
> through legislation, and recognise the need for student
> representation.
>
> GREENS
>
> Like the Democrats, the Greens are opposed to VSU, and supported the
> SOS program. The protection of student organisations is one of their
> principles, but they do not commit themselves to any action on this
> point.
>
> LIBERALS
>
> The Coalition has promised to dissolve the SOS program if they are
> elected to government.
>
> This means that where state or territory anti-student union policies
> are in place postgraduate associations will be partially or totally
> defunded. For example, under the current Western Australian VSU
> legislation postgraduate associations will be totally defunded and
> will accordingly not be able to contribute to national representation.
> Under the Victorian legislation postgraduate associations will be
> partially defunded and they will be proscribed from paying CAPA
> affiliation fees. The introduction of VSU legislation remains a real
> threat.
>
> NATIONAL PARTY
>
> The National Party is opposed to the SOS program. As opposed to
> Liberal policy, the National Party would appear to advocate the
> introduction of VSU on a national scale.
>
> UP-FRONT FEES
>
> ALP
>
> The ALP promises to maintain HECS, but offers no comment as to what
> changes may be made to the current system in terms of rates of
> repayment, repayment thresholds or numbers of HECS-liable places. The
> ALP has committed itself to allow the payment of up-front fees for
> postgraduate courses, but does not stipulate how those fees will be
> regulated. However, it is opposed to the introduction of up-front fees
> for undergraduate domestic students. The ALP has also resolved to
> undertake a review of the deregulation of postgraduate courses,
> focusing on professional entry courses. The Minister has directed the
> Higher Education Council to review and monitor up-front fee-paying
> courses with particular consideration of access and equity issues.
>
> DEMOCRATS
>
> The Democrats promise to abolish HECS completely, and have voted
> against the introduction of up-front fees for postgraduate courses in
> the past. However, they make little specific reference to the issue,
> and make limited reference as to the funding of the higher education
> system as a whole after the abolition of HECSs
>
> GREENS
>
> The Greens commit themselves to establishing a free tertiary education
> system, but make no reference to up-front fee-paying for
> postgraduates.
>
> LIBERALS
>
> The Liberal Party supports up-front fee-paying for postgraduates, but
> has expressed concern over professional entry courses. The Liberals
> promise to 'act to ensure that equity and access do not suffer'; and,
> similar to ALP policy, commit to monitoring the quality of feepaying
> courses. However, there is no reference to any sort of regulation of
> the fee-paying system.
>
> NATIONAL PARTY
>
> The National Party is comnitted to replacing HECS with a lower annual
> tuition fee, but offers no specific comments as to how this fee is to
> be paid, whether up-front or deferred payment. There is no reference
> to up-front fees for postgraduates.
>
> RESEARCH AND FUNDING
>
> ALP
>
> The ALP has committed itself to increasing the capacity of
> universities to undertake pure and applied research, to ensuring that
> the Commonwealth remains the major provider of funds, to ensure
> equitable treatment in the allocation of research/teaching
> infrastructure funds and to fostering greater co-operation between
> teaching and research. It also commits institutions to seek greater
> industry and private sector contributions, but promises to ensure that
> these contributions do not influence the direction of
> research/teaching activity. The ALP has the most complete policy as
> regards research and/or funding.
>
> DEMOCRATS
>
> The Democrats believe the Commonwealth should be the major source of
> funds for education and research funding. However, research funding
> would be focused on technology-, business- and sciencebased
> disciplines. They are committed to establishing an Australian Research
> Foundation, but it is not indicated whether this Foundation would
> replace the Australian Research Council. In line with current ALP
> policy, the Democrats would establish Centres for Research
> Concentrations, but do not indicate how these would be funded.
>
> GREENS
>
> The Greens commit themselves to the development and funding of pure,
> curiosity-based research, with particular emphasis on environmental
> research. They are also committed to protecting the development of
> research from the influence of private industry and/or government.
> They promise to abolish HECS, however they make no reference as to how
> they will fund research, or to the issue of up-front fees for
> postgraduates.
>
> LIBERALS
>
> See 'Up-Front Fees' for HECS policy. While the Coalition is committed
> to an 'overall program of expenditure restraint', they will at least
> maintain and 'hopefully in due course' increase recurrent expenditure.
> There would appear to be some doubt concerning any increases in
> funding for the higher education sector. There is nothing available on
> research policy.
>
> NATIONAL PARTY
>
> The National Party has no policy relating to research. It has
> committed itself to funding higher education through incentives,
> industry cadetships and commonwealth and state funding, but gives no
> details as to these sources or what source will be the major provider
> of funds. There is no mention of how, or whether, industry funding of
> the higher education sector would be regulated or monitored in any
> way.
>
> ACCESS AND EQUITY
>
> ALP
>
> The ALP has made access and equity issues a priority, by committing
> itself to supporting programs to increase the participation of women
> in education; to ensuring access for people regardless of their means;
> to ensurlng Improved jpartlclpatlon of disadvantaged groups; to
> promoting equal opportunity in teaching, employment and enrolment
> practices; to encouraging greater recognition of prior learning, and
> to strengtheningABSTUDY. However, no reference is made to access and
> equity issues in relation to postgraduates, apart from the review of
> the deregulation of the postgraduate sector, which is to 'take into
> account' access and equity issues.
>
> DEMOCRATS
>
> The Democrats support, but do not commit themselves to, restructuring
> postgraduate entrance to facilitate access; and promise to abolish
> HECS. There is no specific reference to access and equity issues.
>
> GREENS
>
> The Greens commit themselves to extending access to education through
> abolishing HECS, but make no reference as to how the sector will be
> funded. They also promise to increase places, develop decentralised
> campuses and extend distance delivery modes. There is no reference to
> up-front-fee-paying for postgraduates. However, they are the only
> party to point out in principle the discriminatory effects of HECS,
> particularly on women and mature-age students.
>
> LIBERALS
>
> See 'Up-Front Fees'. The Liberal Party has also committed itself to
> maintaining ABSTUDY. There is no other reference to access and equity
> issues.
>
> NATIONAL PARTY
>
> The National Party promises to undertake a review of all asset testing
> to ensure that no genuinely needy case is denied support; and to
> abolish HECS, but replace it with an annual tuition fee. There is no
> specific reference to access and equity considerations.
>
> INCOME SUPPORT
>
> ALP
>
> The ALP has committed itself to maintaining AUSTUDY, to monitor and
> review the provision of AUSTUDY, to ensuring it is targeted to those
> most in need, and to implementing the Common Allowance Structure. The
> ALP has also targeted ABSTUDY, promising to maintain and strengthen
> it. There is no reference to APAs, extension of AUSTUDY to
> postgraduates.
>
> DEMOCRATS
>
> The Democrats advocate an increase in AUSTUDY to an equal level with
> the unemployment benefit, and promise a generous number of
> Commonwealth subsidies for overseas students. They point towards the
> inadequate levels of APAs, but do not commit themselves to raising
> these levels in any way. However, they are the only party to make
> specific reference to postgraduate awards and income support. They
> also commit themselves to liberalising eligibility criteria for
> AUSTUDY and progressively abolishing the means test of parents'
> income.
>
> GREENS
>
> The Greens promise to establish a Guaranteed Adequate income, but give
> no detail as to how this system is to be implemented, whether it
> incorporates an income support scheme, and at what level the income
> will be set at.
>
> LIBERALS
>
> The Liberal Party promises to maintain AUSTUDY and ABSTUDY, and will
> implement a number of the recommendations of the Senate inquiry into
> AUSTUDY. The Inquiry had no recommendations to make regarding the
> extension of AUSTUDY to postgraduate students. The Coalition will act
> to improve the administration of AUSTUDY, and has in the past opposed
> proposed government mod ificatio ns to AUSTUDY. There is no mention of
> APAs.
>
> NATIONAL PARTY
>
> The National Party promises to conduct a review of asset testing,
> ensuring that no 'genuinely' needy case is denied appropriate
> government assistance. There is some ambiguity surrounding the terms
> 'genuinely', appropriate' or 'government assistance'. There is no
> reference to AUSTUDY or ABSTUDY.
>
> COURSEWORK
>
> There is no mention of postgraduate coursework in any of the parties'
> policies. See also 'Up-Front Fees'.
>
> If you have any questions about the Guide, or would like any more
> copies, feel free to contact the CAPA office on 03 9254 1917, or Dani
> Brown on 0419 909 957. Our email address is: CAPA@CLEO.MURDOCH.EDU.AU
>
> Our postal address is: CAPA PO Box 1328 City Road South Melbourne VIC
> 3205
>
> CAPA is an information resource for all postgraduate students, and
> we'd be happy to keep you updated on further developments throughout
> the campaign.
>
> POLITICAL WEB SITES
>
>    * ALP HOMEPAGE
>    * LIBERAL HOMEPAGE
>    * ONLINE POLL
>
> These pages were marked up by Sandie Downey on behalf of CAPA and were
> last updated 16th February 1996. SANDIE.DOWNEY@UNISA.EDU.AU
>
> LAST UPDATED 16th February,1996
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                Email:    Sandie.Downey@unisa.edu.au
                Phone +618 302-6914  Fax +618 302-6711
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