Maharey – A Wimpish Ministerial Failure

Maharey – A Wimpish Ministerial Failure

The decision of the Tertiary Education Commission to allow student fee increases of up to 10% for some tertiary courses such as medicine at Otago University are a shocking sign of failed ministerial leadership on the part of Tertiary Education Minister Steve Maharey.

The TEC decision is a direct result of Maharey’s refusal to provide adequate funding for our universities and polytechs.

After fully 5 years of Labour led governments Maharey has failed to hold tertiary fees at their previous levels - let alone see them drop. This failure is spectacular when measured against the record $6.5 billion budget surplus.

One has to ask the question –

Just how big must the budget surplus become before Labour adopts a policy to fully fund tertiary education?

The money is there but the social conscience is absent.

Increases in student debt will mirror these fee increases. Maharey is building an appalling legacy for our emerging generation. $7 billion and growing by the day.

We are deeply angered at the intransigence of the Labour government in the face of the debt mountain being built on the backs of the next generation of New Zealanders.

Just where is the social justice in this Labour government? Or is Maharey such a wimp that he loses his tongue in cabinet? Already he presides over policies which will continue to see 175,000 children living in poverty even after the government support package is implements next year.

So poorly has Labour failed to provide adequately for social services that the debate has now been skewed in favour of our social and business elites who clamour for tax cuts.

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