$250 Student Fee introduced (3 Viewers)

[Rafy]

The Gillard government has today slapped a $263 fee on students.

The Higher Education Legislation Amendment (Student Services and Amenities) Bill 2010 passed the Senate today.

The bill essentially overturns Voluntary Student Unionism (VSU), a policy of the Howard government which gave choice to students. Essentially under VSU you only paid for services that you actually used. Now everybody has to pay a fee even if you don't use any of the services at all.

 

[boris]

do off campus students have to pay this

 

[Graney]

What services will this fee provide.

 

[Graney]

The Government will be abolishing SLE in the same Bill that provides for the Demand Driven System. This will ensure that higher education students no longer have a limit placed on how much study they can undertake as a Commonwealth supported student

From 1 January 2012, eligibility for a Commonwealth supported place will no longer depend on a student having sufficient SLE to cover their study.

A person who has used some or all of their SLE will not be impaired in their capacity to be a Commonwealth supported student in the future.

http://www.deewr.gov.au/HigherEducation/Resources/Pages/FundingUndergradStudent.aspx


Study 4eva

 

[boris]

smoebody please tell me this is urgent!1

 

[izzy88]

This money is being collected by the university is that correct? (ie. not the unions as under the old system).

If so, I wonder how much the universities will give to their respective student unions, and whether the unions will still have to charge a fee to join? I'd be interested to see how the uni's/unions deal with this.

 

[Rafy]

do off campus students have to pay this

There is no exception in the Act preventing this and it'll be up to universities as to whom the fee is levied on.

This gives you some idea of their thinking though:

Universities Australia appreciates that not all students may use
these services during their study, but is firmly of the view that it is
better for all students to contribute to the provision of the services,
which are then available to all, than to not have the services
available to those who need them

 

[boris]

the only club/service i want on campus is the smashing pussies predrinks goon club or similar

edit: fucking hell that is horrendous

this is a serious issue now that i didnt previously care about

 

[izzy88]

Hoping i got the right bill...

The money levied can't be used for a political party but can be used for:

"Subsection (3) does not prohibit expenditure for a purpose that relates to the provision of any of the following services:
(a) providing food or drink to students on a campus of the higher education provider;
(b) supporting a sporting or other recreational activity by students;
(c) supporting the administration of a club most of whose members are students;
(d) caring for children of students;
(e) providing legal services to students;
(f) promoting the health or welfare of students;
(g) helping students secure accommodation;
(h) helping students obtain employment or advice on careers;
(i) helping students with their financial affairs;
(j) helping students obtain insurance against personal accidents;
(k) supporting debating by students;
(l) providing libraries and reading rooms (other than those provided for academic purposes) for students;
(m) supporting an artistic activity by students;
(n) supporting the production and dissemination to students of media whose content is provided by students;
(o) helping students develop skills for study, by means other than undertaking *courses of study in which they are enrolled;
(p) advising on matters arising under the higher education provider’s rules (however described);
(q) advocating students’ interests in matters arising under the higher education provider’s rules (however described);
(r) giving students information to help them in their orientation;
(s) helping meet the specific needs of *overseas students relating to their welfare, accommodation and employment."

 

[boris]

great so subsidising career students with babies cool

 

[Lolsmith]

defos becoming a professional student

 

[Azure]

Why would anyone become a professional student anyway? I don't see the logic

 

[boris]

never have to work ever

 

[Lolsmith]

well you see I can get half price public transport for life basically by enrolling in enough courses to make me a full time student, getting my little sticker on my student ID, then dropping some or all of those courses

 

[boris]

self satisfaction of being 'educated'


why would anyone want to become a professional dole bludger etc

 

[izzy88]

never have to work ever

yeah, but you then won't have money either though. I'm sick of a student budget.

 

[Lolsmith]

get a job then

also centrelink benefits yeah boi I can earn like $4 grand more and still get money from the delicious government

thanks Shane I appreciate it

 

[Phoenix Fury]

aids

 

[boris]

get a job then

also centrelink benefits yeah boi I can earn like $4 grand more and still get money from the delicious government

thanks Shane I appreciate it

couple $5000 grants at the start of each semester or whatever

fuck man

 

[Lolsmith]

HOLY JESUS

IF I MOVE OUT NEXT YEAR

I GET AN EXTRA $4K FROM DA GOVERNMENTS A YEAR

PLUS $1K A SEMESTER FOR (nothing) TEXTBOOKS

yesssss I love the welfare state glorious mother Australia