No, Chris, let’s not do this – Free tertiary education is Robin Hood Reversed

The Taxpayers' Union is slamming Labour's education spokesperson Chris Hipkins’ comments this morning on Labour's free tertiary education policy, and will be delivering him a copy of the Union's recently published briefing paper, Robin Hood Reversed: How Free Tertiary Education Robs Today’s Poor for Tomorrow’s Rich.

Researcher Matthew Rhodes says, “You can’t just make the cost of things disappear. Labour’s policy will cost taxpayers an additional $852.57 per year, once fully implemented. It will be low to middle income earners who will feel the brunt of such a policy, while the future’s rich get a free ride.”

“Chris Hipkins is parading that under a free tertiary education policy, students will have less debt. Of course, the policy actually reaches deeper into the pockets of the disadvantaged, to help the future’s wealthy.”

“The current system strikes a balance between user-pays and taxpayer subsidies. Currently, 84% of the costs of tertiary education are subsidised by taxpayers - the vast majority of which don't benefit. Students are the ones who ultimately reap most the benefits of higher incomes in the future. It's only fair they pay some of the costs.”

The briefing paper, Robin Hood Reversed: How Free Tertiary Education Robs Today’s Poor for Tomorrow’sRich, was published just after Labour's announcement, and is available for download at: www.taxpayers.org.nz/robin_hood_reversed.

Hard copies are also available on request.

ENDS

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