THE HON AMANDA RISHWORTH MP
SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR EDUCATION
SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR HIGHER EDUCATION
FEDERAL MEMBER FOR KINGSTON
MICHELLE ROWLAND MP
SHADOW MINISTER FOR CITIZENSHIP AND MULICULTURALISM
SHADOW ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR COMMUNICATIONS
FEDERAL MEMBER FOR GREENWAY
MEDIA RELEASE
GREENWAY COMMUNITY CONCERNED ABOUT PROPOSED EDUCATION CHANGES
Shadow Assistant Minister for Education and Higher Education, Amanda Rishworth, and Member for Greenway, Michelle Rowland, met with local families at The Ponds Community Hub last night to listen to their concerns about the Abbott Government’s proposed changes to education and higher education.
The Abbott Government has taken a wrecking ball to all levels of Australia’s education system.
Recent Government figures reveal the Abbott Government’s cuts to education will leave schools in New South Wales $9.5 billion worse off over the next decade.
Amanda Rishworth said students in Greenway will miss out on $219 million in funding because of the Abbott Governments cuts over the next 10 years.
“Because of these cuts, students will miss out on vital support such as extra teachers and literacy and numeracy programs,” said Amanda Rishworth.
Member for Greenway, Michelle Rowland, said all families in her local community will be hurt by the proposed changes.
“Families in Greenway are very worried about what these changes are going to mean for them and their children,” Ms Rowland said.
“Labor recognises the importance of making a good education available to all Australians, regardless of where they live, or how much their parents earn.”
But our schools aren’t the only target of Abbott and Pyne’s education cuts.
The Abbott Government’s proposed changes will burden university students with huge debts that could take decades to pay off.
Amanda Rishworth said that families were very concerned about the prospect of deregulated university fees which would allow their children to be burdened with debts of over $100,000, in addition to paying real interest rates on their HECS-HELP debt.
“The Abbott Government is destroying the Australian dream of a fair go by making university degrees out of reach for many.”
“Both Prime Minister Tony Abbott and Education Minister Christopher Pyne promised before and after the election that there would be no cuts to education and no increases in the cost of going to university. These were more lies from the Abbott Government,” said Ms Rishworth.
Michelle Rowland said soaring university fees and huge debts will prevent many in the local community from being able to afford to go to university.
“Wealth should not be a factor in getting the best education possible. I want people in Greenway and across Australia to be able access university and not be left behind because of financial reasons.
“These cuts to education and increased costs to higher education are unfair and Labor will fight these changes every step of the way,” Ms Rowland said.
WEDNESDAY, 6 AUGUST 2014
