Scoop has an Ethical Paywall
Work smarter with a Pro licence Learn More
Parliament

Gordon Campbell | Parliament TV | Parliament Today | Video | Questions Of the Day | Search

 

Alliance tertiary education policy announced

Jim Anderton MP Mon Sep 20 1999

Jim Anderton
MPPhasing out of tertiary fees, zero interest on student loans and the introduction of allowances for all students are the main features of the Alliance tertiary education policy.

It was released at Auckland University today by Alliance leader Jim Anderton and education spokesperson Dr Liz Gordon.


The Alliance estimates that full-time student numbers would be increased by about 31,000.


The $425 million cost of the tertiary education policy would be covered by the reintroduction of an unimproved-value tax on commercial land (UVT), which exempts land such as farms, residential homes, Crown land, Maori customary land, and forest reserves. It was removed in 1990, the same year student fees were introduced and the $3 billion student debt began to accumulate.


Fees for public tertiary education will be removed over a three year period under the policy, with a third of the fees being removed each year. For example, a student paying $3000 a year in fees will have them eliminated progressively by $1000 a year.


All students would be paid a living allowance at the level of the unemployment benefit.


Interest on all student loans would be set at zero. The tertiary loans scheme would continue to fund the shortfall in fees and allowances until tertiary education was made entirely free, and then be abolished. A full independent enquiry will be held into existing and future student loan debt and the social and economic consequences of it.

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading

Are you getting our free newsletter?

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.


The Alliance Partnership 2000 policy announced in August committed to increased funding for university-based research, including allowing universities and other public sector research facilities to have access to the Public Good Science Fund.


A Commission will be appointed to address the future shape of the tertiary sector, including quality issues and the role of Polytechnics, colleges of education and private training establishments.


Students' associations will regain their universal mandatory status, and academic freedom guaranteed. A small tertiary education staffing unit will be set up within the Ministry of Education to provide a link between the government's funding decisions and implementation.


Dr Gordon said tertiary fees and the student debt burden are endangering New Zealand's future.


'Students now owe more than $3 billion on their loans. It's driving our best and brightest overseas and it's denying many young people a chance for higher education.


'Last week the University of Auckland published a study showing that the number of students from poor schools going to university has dropped by 23%. Just 8% of students enrolling in university in 1997 were from schools ranked decile 1 to 3, the bottom level of schools. The trend is the same at polytechnics.'


Jim Anderton said New Zealand's future is dependent on investing in higher education.


'Our future prosperity depends on creating high-technology industries based on the skills and knowledge of New Zealanders. We need to invest in higher education and support our young people.'


He said UVT would be a form of wealth tax. It is levied on the unimproved-value of commercial land over $500,000 and exempts land such as farms, residential homes, Crown land, Maori customary land, and forest reserves,


'The greatest period of expansion in commercial property in New Zealand's history occurred in the mid-80s, when it was still in force. It is a fair way to raise the money we need to invest in New Zealand's future,' Jim Anderton said.

ENDS

(note. earlier killed version moved with incorrect byline.)

© Scoop Media

Advertisement - scroll to continue reading
 
 
 
Parliament Headlines | Politics Headlines | Regional Headlines


Gordon Campbell: On The US Opposition To Mortgage Interest Deductibility For Landlords


Should landlords be able to deduct the interest on the loans they take out to bankroll their property speculation? The US Senate Budget Committee and Bloomberg News don't think this is a good idea, for reasons set out below. Regardless, our coalition government has been burning through a ton of political capital by giving landlords a huge $2.9 billion tax break via interest deductibility, while still preaching the need for austerity to the disabled, and to everyone else...
More


 
 

Government: Concerns Conveyed To China Over Cyber Activity
Foreign Minister Winston Peters has confirmed New Zealand’s concerns about cyber activity have been conveyed directly to the Chinese Government. “The Prime Minister and Minister Collins have expressed concerns today about malicious cyber activity... More

ALSO:


Government: GDP Decline Reinforces Government’s Fiscal Plan

Declining GDP for the December quarter reinforces the importance of restoring fiscal discipline to public spending and driving more economic growth, Finance Minister Nicola Willis says... More

ALSO:


Government: Humanitarian Support For Gaza & West Bank

Winston Peters has announced NZ is providing a further $5M to respond to the extreme humanitarian need in Gaza and the West Bank. “The impact of the Israel-Hamas conflict on civilians is absolutely appalling," he said... More


Government: New High Court Judge Appointed

Judith Collins has announced the appointment of Wellington Barrister Jason Scott McHerron as a High Court Judge. Justice McHerron graduated from the University of Otago with a BA in English Literature in 1994 and an LLB in 1996... More

 
 
 
 
 
 

LATEST HEADLINES

  • PARLIAMENT
  • POLITICS
  • REGIONAL
 
 

InfoPages News Channels


 
 
 
 

Join Our Free Newsletter

Subscribe to Scoop’s 'The Catch Up' our free weekly newsletter sent to your inbox every Monday with stories from across our network.