EDUCATION REFORM VITAL FOR TASMANIA Here is my opinion piece in todays Examiner, which explains why Senator Jacquie Lambie and Tasmanias Labor-Green politicians are failing our State in relation to higher education reforms. By ANDREW NIKOLIC THE long-term future of too many Tasmanians is being white-anted by myopic politicking, particularly when it comes to education and its inevitable offspring, jobs and the economy. Most Tasmanians recognise the natural link between education and future prosperity, with the notable exception of my Tasmanian political opponents. The refusal of five Tasmanian Labor Senators, two Tasmanian Greens Senators and independent Senator Jacquie Lambie to support the government’s higher education reforms reinforces their failure to act in the best interests of our state. Last December, Senator Lambie wasn’t even willing to consider a $400 million package for the University of Tasmania unless the government bent to her will on unrelated defence policy matters. She didn’t even try negotiating a deal that UTAS wants and Tasmania needs. Very regrettably, and despite her illogical stance, Senator Lambie is cheered on in this by Tasmania’s Labor-Green senators, and by independent Andrew Wilkie, for political rather than substantive policy reasons. Yet again, political self-interest is undermining the interests of a majority of otherwise voiceless Tasmanians. Senator Lambie opposes the higher education reforms but promises to somehow “make sure UTAS gets that $400 million” . As someone who has consistently promoted the UTAS project as a strategic enabler of Tasmania’s prosperity, I find it galling to have sensible and much-needed policy so superficially rejected. Tasmanians do not deserve to be treated in such an offhanded and lightweight manner. The UTAS proposal is innovative , exciting, will result in more Tasmanians accessing higher education , and contributes to a brighter economic future. This is vital, because only 6.7 per cent of our young people attend university, compared to a national average of around 40 per cent. Like every other Australian university , UTAS is considering how it might take advantage of a deregulated system – that’s what good universities do. They adjust to economic reality and optimise new opportunities. All regional Australians deserve the opportunity to access higher education. In Tasmania, this is more so for the North and North-West because of the challenges of isolation and unacceptably high unemployment . We need a strong university that can contribute to a skilled workforce and provide an innovation base for industry through highquality research. The potential benefits are significant , including over $1 billion economic return for Northern Tasmania between now and 2025. Additionally, UTAS would have the opportunity to offer government-supported “pathway” and diploma courses, which can only improve its economic viability and make higher education available to thousands more young Tasmanians. However, without the higher education reforms there will not be the student flow to justify significant capital expenditure for UTAS. Without deregulation, there is little scope to change the way things are now. Because of this, it is vital that the higher education reforms proceed and that quality universities like UTAS optimise the opportunities of a deregulated system. This UTAS proposal would contribute to the socio-economic revitalisation of North and North-West Tasmania through education and innovation. And it would bring a muchneeded economic and cultural surge into Tasmania’s regional cities in a way that is potentially transformational. Senator Lambie and her Labor-Green colleagues in Tasmania must accept that and get behind these sensible changes. To do otherwise will hurt average Tasmanians far more than it will their political opponents.
Posted on: Sat, 24 Jan 2015 00:11:12 +0000