Now It's Getting Serious. Has Dr Nelson Gone Too Far in His Attack on "Compulsory Student Union" Fees? (March 24, 2005)

    The March 24 Australian reports, "Sydney University Sport president Bruce Ross said the legislation unveiled by Dr Nelson last week [to enforce voluntary student unionism] would have a disastrous effect, not only on the sports field, but on the educational and career opportunities of elite sportsmen and women." And the Murdoch paper opines it "could be devastating for Australia's chances at the next Olympics."

Mr Ross told The Australian "A national survey of universities revealed $58million was invested directly each year into sports facilities and services, (of which) $40million was derived from student fees," and for the recent Olympics Sydney University alone contributed a coach and seventeen athletes to the Australian team.

Mr Ross, a retired economics lecturer, believes that were fees to the student union become voluntary revenue would drop some 80%. He concluded telling The Australian's Peter Kogoy, "It would be a disgrace if a uniquely Australian model for simultaneously developing sporting and academic excellence became a collateral casualty of a desire to reform non-sport-related student organisations."

So just how will this revelation sit with Australia's sports obsessed Prime Minister, John Howard, and what will be the effect on the political progress of the Minister for Education, Science and Training, Brendan Nelson?

Dr Nelson may be treading precariously in heavy water.