Ms Tanya Plibersek , Deputy Leader of the Federal Labor Opposition, vowed to fight plans to charge students as much as $3,200 for university preparation courses that are currently free.
Ms Plibersek joined the Member for Dobell, Ms Emma McBride, at the University of Newcastle’s Ourimbah campus, to hear from students and staff about the impact the proposed fee would have. Ms Plibersek said the university preparation courses give people who may not have fi nished high school, the opportunity to go to university. “The courses teach the maths, science, English and other skills necessary for university,” Ms Plibersek said. “They are particularly successful in helping students from disadvantaged backgrounds get a university education,” she said. “But Malcolm Turnbull’s plan to introduce fees of thousands of dollars will put these course out of reach of people that really need them. “It’s just cruel.”
Ms McBride said residents of the Central Coast were worried about the plan. “These university preparation courses open up terrific opportunities,” Ms McBride said. “Around a quarter of undergraduate students at Central Coast campus begin their studies through one of these enabling programs. “These students go on to be our nurses and teachers.”
Source: Media release, Jul 11 Heather Robinson, office of Emma McBride , Image; NBN News Central Coast