Alliance Sold Out on Students - ACTivists

Alliance Sold Out on Students - ACTivists

Claims from the Alliance Tertiary Education spokesperson, Liz Gordon, that her party is responsible for keeping the costs of student loans down is "laughable", according to Gavin Middleton, president of the youth group ACTivists.

"Dr Gordon is trying to claim credit for something that is simply beyond belief. How can her party be keeping student loans "on a leash" when the amount owed by students has ballooned since this Government was elected?" Mr Middleton asked

Mr Middleton said that the Alliance's suggestion they had any significant impact on tertiary education policy was "laughable", and Liz Gordon was merely trying to regain some shred of credibility with those students who felt let down by the Labour/Alliance Government.

"Over the last year I have been approached by countless disappointed students who thought that 'Aunty Liz (Gordon) and Uncle Steve (Maharey)' would take care of them. Of course, the real answer is for students to take responsibility for themselves, and to get the sticky fingers of politicians away from universities."

"The Alliance came into government promising universal allowances, the abolition of fees and emergency handouts, yet when I wrote to Liz Gordon early last year her reply insinuated that none of these policies would be realised."

Mr Middleton said that student support for the Alliance appears to have slid dramatically on campus, but that ACTivists have had a fantastic three months, with membership numbers expected to be twice those of last year.

"Students realise that Labour and Alliance policies cannot deliver to them, and that the best thing they can do is support groups like ACTivists, who want to address the causes of problems instead of merely attempting patch-up jobs."

Mr Middleton said "students rightly feel that the Alliance has sold out on their pre-election promises to gain a back seat in the Government limo. Liz Gordon's attempt to be seen 'doing something about student loans' should be recognised as the act of desperation it is."

ENDS

For more information, contact:

Gavin Middleton (+64) (021) 505495 president@activists.org.nz http://www.activists.org.nz

© Scoop Media