NSW: Young Labor upset at Latham s education vision

AAP General News (Australia)
12-12-1999
NSW: Young Labor upset at Latham s education vision

SYDNEY, Dec 12 AAP - The New South Wales Young Labor conference today condemned former
federal opposition education spokesman Mark Latham for his proposals to restructure higher
education in Australia.

NSW Young Labor President Troy Bramston said delegates were outraged by Mr Latham's
vision for the nation's universities.

"He's proposed deregulation of university fees and a four-tier university structure,
which is a mix of universities being able to charge whatever they like and some being
free," Mr Bramston said.

"We are amazed that a Labor Party member like Mark Latham would come out and support
aspects of (Education Minister) David Kemp's higher education agenda."

The conference had described Mr Latham's proposal as "outrageous and badly conceived",
Mr Bramston said.

His suggestion that certain regional universities be free but large city universities
charge higher fees did not bode well for country Australians.

It would simply result in city students swamping regional universities to take advantage
of free education.

Mr Bramston said although Mr Latham no longer held the portfolio in the shadow ministry,
he was concerned about the proposals gaining publicity.

Mr Latham outlined his higher education vision in an article in The Australian Financial
Review last month.

He suggested a group of free universities with strong public budgets for depressed
regional areas, and a larger group of universities funded according to the existing system.

He also proposed a group of internationally-focused institutions with greater emphasis
on private revenue than public money, and a small group of private universities focusing
on the delivery of corporate education.

"In terms of equity and regional access, a mixed system has multiple advantages," Mr
Latham wrote.

"It gives policymakers a variety of means by which they can satisfy their equity goals
- scholarship, the HECS system plus free regional universities."

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KEYWORD: LABOR LATHAM

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