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Media Release: Wednesday 3 September 2014.
GRADUATE NURSES “CHAINED TO HECS FEES FOR LIFE”.
The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation (ANMF) has called on MPs and Senators to
reject the Abbott Government’s proposed deregulation of university fees – amid concerns the cost
of a nursing degree will skyrocket up to $100,000.
With universities able to set their own course fees, ANMF Assistant Federal Secretary, Annie
Butler, warned that nursing and midwifery students will be “chained to HECS fees for life”, forced to
work up into their late 70s, to pay off the debt.
Ms Butler said: “The ANMF estimates the cost of university degrees could double and triple – with
a nursing degree reaching as high as $100,000. Right now, we have more people wanting to study
nursing than we have places available, but these sorts of fees will deter many and will simply make
nursing impossible for students from lower socio-economic backgrounds.
“The immediate impact of such radical fee increases on nursing is obvious, but the sinister element
lurking in the detail of this Bill is the Abbott Government’s introduction of American-style
privatisation of Australia’s universities.
“This Bill could result in the removal of distinctions between public, private and overseas
institutions and therefore the obligation for universities to focus on contributions to public good for
the Australian community.
“This means that there will be some universities which will choose income over contributions to
society and withdraw from even offering nursing degrees.
“It’s nonsensical that as a significant Australian nursing shortage looms over the next decade, the
Abbott Government is intent on systematically destroying nursing education in this country and the
hopes and dreams of thousands of Australians wanting to study nursing and midwifery each year.
“Instead of shifting the cost burden on to graduate nurses and midwives and cutting federal funding
of fees, the Government should be working with the ANMF to find employment for the 3000 highly
educated Australian nursing and midwifery graduates who cannot find a job.
“Mr Abbott has already broken his election promise of not cutting the health budget and now he is
doing the same with education – compromising the future of Australia’s next generation of nurses
and midwives and putting all of our health at risk.”
Ms Butler said the ANMF applauded the ALP and the PUP for already rejecting the Higher
Education and Research Reform Amendment Bill 2014 and urges all Senators to oppose it as it is
introduced into the Senate.
To date over 4000 nurses, midwives and supporters across the community have taken a stand against
the Abbott Government’s budget of lies, cuts and broken promises, including the deregulation of
university fees, at anmftakeaction.org.au as part of the ANMF’s national Lies, Cuts and Broken
Promises campaign.
The campaign is calling on nurses, midwives and the community to nominate their number one lie,
cut or broken promise and share why this is of concern to them, their family and their community.
By taking a stand against the budget of lies, cuts and broken promises, supporters will also be
asked to spread the word on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram using #healthcareemergency.
These shares will be directed to Ministers, MP’s and Senators to show the growing support against
these broken promises and this healthcare emergency.
www.anmftakeaction.org.au and by using #healthcareemergency
The ANMF, with over 233,000 members, is the professional and industrial voice for nurses, midwives and
assistants in nursing in Australia.
ANMF media inquiries: 0411 254 390.