LABOR’S UNIVERSITY CUTS TO HIT BRADFIELD HARD

The 9000 tertiary students in Bradfield will be hit hard by the Gillard Government’s $2.8 billion in funding cuts to universities announced recently, according to Paul Fletcher MP, Federal Member for Bradfield.

‘Labor’s cuts, funding deferrals and changes to education programmes now equate to a total of $11 billion’, Mr Fletcher said.

‘So while Labor claims it is putting an extra $9.4 billion into schools in response to the Gonski Review – that is less than the $11 billion it is taking out from education at the same time’.

‘Labor promised an ‘education revolution’, then we were promised a ‘crusade’, but what we’ve ended up with is budget cuts and broken promises’. 

Mr Fletcher said it was disappointing to see Julia Gillard using her typical divisive approach to set universities against high schools and primary schools.

‘When last in government the Coalition delivered significant progress in higher education: the number of students in higher education increased by 63 per cent, the number of post-graduate students by 118 per cent, the number of students from low socio-economic backgrounds by 23 per cent and the number of students with disabilities by 140 per cent. 

‘We also established a $6 billion Higher Education Endowment Fund to fund improved capital works and research facilities.  Unfortunately, Labor first raided and then scrapped this fund’.

Mr Fletcher said strong education and research is an essential part of the Coalition’s plan to build a five pillar economy with more jobs, higher wages, and better services for all Australians.