Education reforms that disadvantage women?

Senators: Stand against education reforms that disadvantage women

CAMPAIGN UPDATE: Fair Agenda members have hand delivered your signatures to key crossbench Senators around the country, showing the community opposes education reforms that would disadvantage women.

Up to $45,000 – that­­’s the amount of extra interest women could end up paying on their degree under the Government’s proposed tertiary education overhaul,[1] a legislation package being negotiated right now.

Researchers have shown that the Government's proposed changes to university loan interest will effectively operate as a ‘double whammy’ for many women. First because the gender pay gap extends the time women need to pay off their debt (during which their debt will grow), and then again because any woman who takes time off work to care for children will see their debt grow further in this time.[2]

The cross bench Senators could be expected to vote on these changes as soon as next week. Can you make sure they hear loud and clear that their constituents don’t want education changes that disadvantage women? Sign and share the petition; and local Fair Agenda members will deliver your messages to the Senators' offices this week.

More information

[1] The Abbott Government’s planned de-regulation of uni degrees to hit women the hardest, National Tertiary Education Union, 26 June 2014. Figure based on a three-year accountancy degree, currently costing $30,255, which would climb to about $75,000. The repayments on the degree would grow to $120,000 – including $45,000 in interest, for graduates who take time off to have children and then work part-time. The degree would take 36 years to pay off – compared with 10 years for a typical graduate today. This compares with 23 years for an accountancy graduate who stays in the workforce, who would face repayments of $99,000 - including $24,000 of interest. ‘Women to be hit hardest by student loan debt’, Sydney Morning Herald, 27 May 2014.

[2]HECS upon you: NATSEM models the real impact of higher uni fees, The Conversation, 25 June 2014. ‘Pyne’s education policies hurt women – but the men in cabinet don’t seem to have noticed’, The Guardian, 11 August 2014.

Help us get to 3,500 signatures

3,280 SIGNATURES

Dear Senator,

We're concerned that the Government's proposed changes to university loan interest rates have a built-in bias against women. We urge you to oppose this unfair proposal, and any other education reforms that will disproportionately hurt women. 

Signed,

* required fields

Latest activity

Jenny , 2480  /  signed 2014-08-21 17:47:07 +1000
"My daughter has begun a nursing degree this year. As research shows women’s wages gap & time out for raising children means they will take much longer to pay HECS Debt. The extra interest paid will only increase now with your proposed changes to fee structure"
Janette , 2153  /  signed 2014-08-21 17:46:48 +1000
Joan , 2449  /  signed 2014-08-21 17:45:46 +1000
"Women who leave the workforce to have timeout while raising children will be worst affected however it is an unfair impost on all less wealthy students who cannot afford to pay their fees upfront. Not fiat Mr Abbott."
Paul , 2099  /  signed 2014-08-21 17:45:45 +1000
"I am disgusted at the Coalition Government’s proposed tertiary education overhaul and I definitely will not be voting for the present Government at the next elections.
Most of my 6 siblings, my 5 children, my 51 first cousins and their children and my 6 siblings’ 27 children who are adults have attended universtiy and obtained university degrees and higher degrees and I do not know of one of them who agree with the Government’s proposed overhaul and those that I have spoken to will not be voting Coalition in the next Federal elecrtion because of not only the tertiary education ovhaul but the Draconian measures of the the last budget which even the Governor of the Reserve Bank stated was Dacronian."
Paul , 2099  /  signed 2014-08-21 17:45:44 +1000
"I am disgusted at the Coalition Government’s proposed tertiary education overhaul and I definitely will not be voting for the present Government at the next elections.
Most of my 6 siblings, my 5 children, my 51 first cousins and their children and my 6 siblings’ 27 children who are adults have attended universtiy and obtained university degrees and higher degrees and I do not know of one of them who agree with the Government’s proposed overhaul and those that I have spoken to will not be voting Coalition in the next Federal elecrtion because of not only the tertiary education ovhaul but the Draconian measures of the the last budget which even the Governor of the Reserve Bank stated was Dacronian."
Elizabeth , 2099  /  signed 2014-08-21 17:45:33 +1000
Glen , 2119  /  signed 2014-08-21 17:45:17 +1000
"This is not right and you know its not right. I’m about to have my first child, a girl, and what you are doing will disadvantage her and her peers when they undertake tertiary education. If you need more money, try hammering the big end of town and tightening up your tax law. The amount of tax evasion going on in this country is criminal."
Mark , 2283  /  signed 2014-08-21 17:45:09 +1000
Timothy , 3133  /  signed 2014-08-21 17:43:16 +1000
Noelene , 6330  /  signed 2014-08-21 17:42:36 +1000
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