Union Fee Change Hits Unis
Sun Herald
Sunday August 10, 2008
THE introduction of voluntary student unionism has cost Australian universities $161 million a year since it came into effect in 2006.
A Federal Government report has highlighted its devastating impact on campuses, where basic services have been cut due to lack of funding.Higher education institutions in NSW have lost $56.7 million in student union fees per year, although this has been offset by university contributions of $24.5 million and approximately $1.5 million in student contributions.The findings are revealed in the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations's summary report on the impact of the voluntary scheme.The report, which was compiled in March and April from 162 submissions from higher education stakeholders, cost taxpayers $50,000. It paints a grim picture of campus life."Most submissions concluded that the abolition of upfront compulsory student union fees had impacted negatively on the provision of amenities and services to university students, with the greatest impact at the smaller and regional universities and campuses," it said.While universities and students had kicked in funds to prop up services, the shortfall was still significant."Many noted that the current arrangements were not sustainable in the medium to long term," the report said. "In many instances, assistance was provided by the university but these funds were redirected from other uses such as teaching, learning or research."The University of Western Sydney was particularly badly hit, with its submission reading: "The loss of the services fees (approximately $9 million a year) with the imposition of VSU was disastrous for UWS and its students, coming as it did in a context of a government grant that was not increasing in real terms."Some of the services which have been lost include subsidised child care, transport, emergency loan facilities and disability services.The Minister for Youth, Kate Ellis, who heard the submissions, said the Government was open to considering a range of options to help universities. But she said that compulsory student unionism would not be re-introduced. National Union of Students president Angus McFarland was pleased with the findings, although disappointed that the Government did not disclose the results to those who had made submissions. He stumbled across the summary report on the Department of Education website on Friday."This report backs up all of what student organisations and unions have been calling for in the past two years since this legislation was introduced," he said."It's great to have an independent departmental audit demonstrate and verify everything that we have been saying. The VSU has had a devastating impact on students."He hoped the Government would act soon upon the findings, saying that any change would be an improvement. "We're hoping that the Government will take some decisive action about this although I have to say that the way this has been released is not encouraging," he said."We would hope that a new proposal is out by the end of the year to be implemented next year."The report goes through the different proposals which have been suggested. There are many different options that people have put on the table and to be frank any change is better than the current system."We are all united in our desire to change the current circumstances."A spokesman for Ms Ellis said the report had not been finalised and all the interested parties would be informed when it was ready.
© 2008 Sun Herald