News & Views item - October 2005

 

 

Minister Blindsided Over VSU. (October 31, 2005)

    On Mach 24 TFW's News and Views wrote "Now It's Getting Serious. Has Dr Nelson Gone Too Far in His Attack on 'Compulsory Student Union' Fees?"

    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."

Then in May Gavin Brown, Sydney University's Vice-Chancellor and Glyn Davis, Melbourne University's V-C told the Coalition government that forcing their universities to move student union fees to a voluntary basis will reduce their resource base for subsidising sports facilities by $6.3 million.

 

And when those two dropped that malignant seed into Dr Nelson's garden it was an odds on bet that voluntary student unionism as foreseen by the good Minister for Education, Science and Training, was, if not terminal, in need of radical therapy.

 

Dr Nelson has now as good as conceded that he's been over matched and yesterday announced "I'm reaching the point where I will have little choice than to inform the universities that if VSU is passed through the Parliament this year, I don't expect it to be implemented in 2006."

 

To show what a nice guy he really is Dr Nelson continued, "I obviously want VSU passed and passed this year, but if it is passed this year … I think it would be most unfair on the universities and create significant administrative complexity. They are re-enrolling right now."

 

Asked if universities could charge the fees next year, Dr Nelson said, "Yes, they could."

 

You see he really is a lovable little bunny.

 

What happens in 2006 remains to be seen. If Liberal Senator William Heffernan, who seems obsessed with getting close up and well inside Queensland Senator Barnaby Joyce's personal space, can persuade the former bouncer to see the error of his ways, Dr Nelson may yet fulfil the wish of his Prime Minister and get the job done with scant amendments.

 

Meanwhile there's still plenty of "stuff" around to keep the unis hopping and their personnel preoccupied.

 

Higher education - basic research... who needs 'em.