Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

In his book Ideas for the Future, Labor's shadow Assistant Treasurer said: 'Australian universities should be free to set student fees according to the market value of their degrees. Universities will have a strong incentive to compete on price and quality. Much-needed additional funding will be available to universities that capitalise on their strengths and develop compelling educational offerings. The result will be a better funded, more dynamic and competitive education sector.' Professor Ian Young, chair of the Group of Eight universities and Vice-Chancellor of the Australian National University, in an address to the National Press Club just a couple of months ago, said of the government's policy: 'Deregulation is a game-changer and a building block to making our universities brilliant. On behalf of the Group of Eight, I urge senators to give universities the freedom to be brilliant. Change has to happen.' I refer Professor Young's comments to the Leader of the Opposition.

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