STOP LABOR'S STUDENT TAX!

The Australian Liberal Students’ Federation (ALSF) today slammed Youth Minister, Kate Ellis, for her announcement that the Rudd Government would push ahead with the $250 Student Tax.

Prior to and following the election, the Labor Party promised they would not be restoring compulsory union fees, whether they be paid up front or as part of a deferred payment scheme.  That promise has been broken.

At the National Press Club in Canberra today Minister Ellis rejected abandoning the legislation to reintroduce the compulsory fees.

"Kate Ellis has shown by these statements she will push this through no matter what students think," ALSF President, Alex Butterworth said.

Mr Butterworth pointed to the Australian Democrats Youth Poll 2008, which indicated fifty-nine per cent of students supported Voluntary Student Unionism (VSU).

"Kate Ellis and Kevin Rudd are completely ignoring student outcry on this matter. It's just another example of Labor's anti-youth agenda," Mr Butterworth said.

"Not only are Labor ignoring students, but they are slugging them with a $250 tax during a time of economic crisis, where youth unemployment has increased by 50%"

At a time of global recession, the Rudd Government is introducing a tax on some of the poorest members of society. This is nothing short of a disgrace.

“Kevin Rudd has labelled the level of student debt in this country a ‘national disgrace’, yet he’s let one of his Ministers off the leash to increase the burden by up to $250 million per annum."

Mr Butterworth added that the fees represented poll taxes, levied regardless of a student’s income or ability to use the services that the fees allegedly provide.  “This is like the government taxing everybody $250 each, regardless of whether they can afford to pay it.”

Mr Butterworth said he was pleased that the Liberal Party would be opposing the changes. Mr Butterworth remained optimistic that independent Senators would stand up for students and that the proposal would be blocked in the Senate.

Media Enquiries:      Alex Butterworth

+61 418 264 020

abutterworth@alsf.org.au

www.alsf.org.au

Statements from Stephen Smith, Kate Ellis and Julia Gillard follow:

STEPHEN SMITH, PRE-ELECTION

JOURNALIST: So on the funding side, have you canvassed, or are you contemplating some sort of loan or deferred payment?

SMITH: No, well, firstly I am not considering a HECS style arrangement, I’m not considering a compulsory HECS style arrangement and the whole basis of the approach is one of a voluntary approach. So I am not contemplating a compulsory amenities fee.

KATE ELLIS, POST-ELECTION

“Whilst we recognise we cannot return to the compulsory student unionism arrangements of the past, we are committed to independent and democratic student representation.

JULIA GILLARD, POST-ELECTION

JULIA GILLARD: We are a Government that delivers what we promised. We are delivering our election commitments and in this area we said that there would not be a return to compulsory student unionism…

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