Clive Palmer says he will oppose deregulation of university fees

Palmer United party leader will 'definitely' be voting against higher education changes and says university should be free



Federal MP Clive Palmer prepares to address the Queensland Media Club in Brisbane on Monday. Photograph: Dan Peled/AAP


Clive Palmer has come out against the deregulation of university fees for domestic students, meaning the government may struggle to pass the proposed laws through the Senate.


The Palmer United party leader, who has not previously declared a position on the legislation, told the Queensland Media Club he supported the deregulation of university fees for international students on Monday, then sent out a statement saying the higher education loans program (Help) should be abolished and university made free.

A spokesman confirmed Palmer’s opposition to the deregulation of university fees for domestic students and said he would “definitely” be voting against it.

The move to allow universities to set fees with no cap has created fears university could become unaffordable for students from poor backgrounds. The federal government also proposes to reduce the commonwealth subsidy by 20% on average, increase the interest charged on student loans, lower the income threshold for beginning to pay back a student loan and expand commonwealth-supported places to sub-bachelor programs and non-university providers such as private colleges

Palmer told the media club he supported deregulation for overseas students, who currently pay full fees while the average Australian student is subsidised for more than half of their degree by the government.

Palmer has also called for the end of the Help scheme (formerly Hecs) which most students use to pay for their degrees, and instead make university free.

“We should be doing everything we can to encourage our smartest Australians to pursue tertiary education and take this great country forward, rather than put barriers in their way such as higher fees and Hecs,’’ he said in a statement.

“I would like to see the return to a free university system for Australian students so everybody can have the same dreams and aspirations about bettering themselves and this nation, regardless of their circumstances.”

Palmer said Australia’s best thinkers were being “stifled” and the country was “burying them in debt”.

The government will need Palmer United party support to pass legislation which is opposed by Labor and the Greens when the new Senate sits in July. Palmer has already come out in opposition to the $7 co-payment to visit the GP, the indexation of the pension and increase in the age of eligibility, the indexation of the fuel excise and the deficit levy for higher-income earners.


Bridie Jabour

theguardian.com, Monday 19 May 2014