Joe Ludwig (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Manager of Opposition Business in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

Mr President, I ask a supplementary question. I thank the minister for confirming that under the coalition government the fees will go up. Can the minister confirm that the budget cuts funding for accounting, economics and commerce students by $1,029 per year while at the same time increases HECS contributions for students in those courses by $1,215 per year? On top of the almost certain increase in HECS fees, doesn’t this show that the government is further shifting the cost of accounting, economics and commerce degrees onto students and doesn’t this fly in the face of the government’s new found commitment to higher education?