Tuesday 28 May 2002

"The AEU welcomes the principled policy adopted by State and Territory Education and Training Ministers to oppose the extension of the Higher Education Contributions Scheme (HECS) into TAFE. The Labor ministers have displayed real national leadership in this matter."

"The harsh imposition of a HECS on TAFE students could close off access to TAFE courses for hundreds of thousands of school leavers, youth at risk and other working Australians. It would change TAFE forever."

"The Labor Ministers were clearly concerned at the proposal in the Commonwealth Ministerial paper Higher Education at the Crossroads which stated 'Eligibility for HECS … could be made available to students undertaking programmes with TAFEs'."

"The Howard government policy proposal to force TAFE students to pay HECS follows on the cutbacks to TAFE services and learning conditions which have been caused by the systematic Commonwealth funding cuts over the past five years."

"The AEU and TAFE students across Australia now call upon the federal government to withdraw the socially dangerous proposal to impose HECS on TAFE. Instead it must provide adequate funds to meet the growth in demand for TAFE courses. This will be essential in order to continue building a successful, skilled Australia."