Gavin Moodie Asks: Why is the Rudd Government having so much difficulty introducing its response to voluntary student unionism? (August 29, 2008)

In his opinion piece in this week's Australian HES Gavin Moodie points out that the Rudd government released a discussion paper this past February regarding the effects of voluntary student unionism (VSU) on universities' extra academic services. Youth Minister Kate Ellis consulted extensively and a discussion paper was completed in April.

"So why hasn't it acted four months after it completed its discussion paper," Mr Moodie asks, "And why have there been confused messages in the media during the past week?"

After a bit of cogitation the higher education policy analyst at Griffith University comes to the conclusion:

What seems to be at stake is who controls the funds. The National Union of Students prefers that all students be charged an amenities fee, which could perhaps be deferred in the same way as HECS. Students would be able to indicate which services their fee would fund. But because the fee would be separately charged and identified as a student amenities fee, student associations would have a stronger argument to control the funds.

University administrations prefer student services not be subject to the occasionally fractious, disorganised and what they perceive as the sometimes wasteful student organisations. They would rather have funding for student services incorporated in institutions' grants.

He then opines that we're witnessing a tug-o-war between old and new Labor, i.e. the left (Gillard and Carr) and the right (Rudd) in so far as this matter goes.

If that's the case are we really seeing signs of creeping ALS so far as the determination of governmental policy. VSU is in fact a minor issue and there are some significant reviews in the offing that will need to be acted upon or else the Coalition, bereft of talent as it may be, will nevertheless be handed a cat o' nine tails with which to flog the Rudd government.