George Williams’ timely article is a fascinating account of the impact of Neoliberalism on ‘our’ tertiary education system.
Despite what Neoliberalists argue, education is a merit good – the nation gains more from the collective result than the overall cost. Whitlam was correct about fees.
Concomitant with their performance to date, I don’t see this government doing anything meaningful. Instead of increasing by inflation, the costs of a degree and an individuals’ HECS debt could be reduced by 5 per cent year on year.
I am telling my grandchildren that if they want to attend a university away from home (and hence incurring accommodation and food costs), it is now cheaper to get an undergraduate degree in Europe than Australia!