Eric Hutchinson (Lyons, Liberal Party) Share this | Hansard source

I touched on the article by Andrew Trounson before, titled 'Get over Gough', and I will not go back there. But I look at the way the minister has negotiated this. He consulted broadly—long before the budget that was apparently so unfair. There is nothing more unfair than stealing from my kids, I can tell you; but the minister has consulted with the sector. He engaged with the sector and they could not sustain more cuts. So we have come up with a package that is supported by the sector and that is all about getting more students in Australia into university.

I truly appeal to the crossbenchers because we are going to get no help from those on the other side. They are all complaint and no solution. But I do appeal to the crossbench senators. I appeal to my Tasmanian colleague, Senator Lambie. I noted comments that were made this morning, and I just say: former Senator Brian Harradine was not on our side of politics, Mr Deputy Speaker Broadbent, but you would have known him. What would Senator Brian Harradine have done in this situation? I ask Senator Lambie to contemplate. There was a man who delivered more for our state in the time that he was a member representing the state of Tasmania. He certainly would not have taken his bat and ball and gone home. He would have been in the minister's office, and he would have been talking to the relevant ministers about what he could get for our state. I strongly encourage her to take a leaf out of that book.

What about the scare campaign on fees? I have never seen anything like it. We will start with the Queensland University of Technology, with not a $100,000 degree in sight. You cannot find one. One of the best business law degrees—

Ms Butler interjecting—

The member for Griffith probably knows all about these things. One of the best business law degrees in the country: 5½ years and around $30,000. There is not a $100,000 degree in sight. Then we have the University of Western Australia.

Ms Claydon interjecting—

I acknowledge the comments made by the member for Newcastle about the quality of her university in her town. It is fantastic to hear that. The University of Western Australia is one of the top 100 in the world—and it is $16,000 a year for a three-year degree. It is not $100,000, is it? No.

Opposition members interjecting—

The hypocrisy! I cannot use some words in this chamber and I will not, but it is indeed frightening.

Opposition members interjecting—

No up-front fees. Not one student in Australia going to the university of their choice will pay one cent—not one cent, and this is fantastic.

More of my colleagues will talk more about this, but 80,000 more students will have access to higher education institutions in our country as a result of these reforms. Regional universities will be the big winners. Take for example the university in my home state of Tasmania. It is the biggest employer in the state of Tasmania. It is a university that can also compete at the research end. It is capable of attracting research dollars for things like marine and Antarctic studies. I note the member for Lyne made reference to some of the money that the federal government has contributed to those research efforts. Fundamentally—certainly in northern Tasmania, certainly in the campus in Launceston and certainly in the campus in Burnie—the high proportion of students that first engage with this wonderful institution are going through pathway courses, sub bachelor degrees and the like. It is those courses that will, with these reforms, now be able to access the HECS loan scheme, which is a truly a generous scheme.

I will give an example of the capacity of the University of Tasmania to be able to keep up. I have mentioned this before. The third-largest course they have at the University of Tasmania is their degree in dementia care. It has been born out of their MOOC, which is an online free course there. They have identified a gap in the market. And, I can tell you, with the free trade agreement we have just signed with China there will be huge opportunity for our capacity now that we are able to own and operate profit-making aged-care facilities, childcare facilities and hospitals in China. As a result of the free trade agreement, there are going to be huge opportunities for increased training of those people who will staff those facilities in China. This is why this is so important.

We are talking about multiple campuses. I sort of believe in competition. You have got the University of Tasmania—a fine institution. Yes, it has some challenges. We understand that, and that is the conversation that I have been having with the minister—a conversation I would encourage Senator Lambie to have with the minister—in terms of Burnie and the Launceston campuses and how they could be assisted. Tell me if I am wrong, but you have got a monopoly institution, you have got a captive market and you have got a high-quality provider. Heavens above, if they cannot compete in this environment I will give it away, and I believe they absolutely can.

Regional universities can be the big winners, because what you will see is reverse migration. If the University of Melbourne prices themselves out of it, and even if they did have $100,000 degrees, students will be able to judge whether that is good value for money or whether they are better off doing the course at the University of Tasmania or even the University of Newcastle. This is what we will see. You will see this happening, and that is really exciting for regional universities in Australia. There will be more scholarships for students from low-SES backgrounds. I note also the University of Sydney—

Ms Butler interjecting—

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