Fed: Senate to start looking at compulsory uni student charge

AAP General News (Australia)
08-17-2009
Fed: Senate to start looking at compulsory uni student charge

CANBERRA, Aug 17 AAP - The Senate begins debate on Monday on whether university students
should be required to pay $250 a year to help fund campus services such as child care.

But the fee, which the federal government wanted to come into effect from July 1 this
year, will not be allowed to support political parties.

The coalition, which abolished compulsory student unionism when last in power, says
the charge is a tax on students.

But Youth Minister Kate Ellis said some universities had been forced to direct money
away from research and teaching budgets to support services and amenities that otherwise
would have been cut.

Labor needs the support of all seven crossbench senators to have parliament approve
the new measure.

The Australian Greens want the government to provide students with a say in how the
money is spent.

AAP rl/ash

KEYWORD: STUDENT

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