Today's reports that Education Department documents have confirmed that so-called 'voluntary student unionism' (VSU) could lock out disadvantaged students from university are not surprising, according to the Australian Democrats.
"The Australian Democrats have been warning for months that it is the neediest students who have the most to lose under VSU," Democrats' Higher Education Spokesperson Senator Natasha Stott Despoja said.
"It is not rocket science that it will be poorest students who will be least able to afford the full cost of services currently subsidised by student associations, and will be thus hardest hit by the policy.
"Students from lower socio-economic status backgrounds are already suffering due to increased HECS fees and inadequate student income support measures.
"We know from the recent Democrat-initiated Senate inquiry into student income support found that around 60 percent of students on income support payments are already living below the poverty line.
"Regional universities and students in regional and rural areas will also be particularly disadvantaged by this legislation.
"The services student organisations offer such as counselling, childcare and advocacy are particularly important in regional and rural areas, where they often provide services to the community which would not otherwise be provided.
"If the Minister is so confident that students will not lose out through the cost or availability of services under VSU, I urge him to guarantee that poor students will not be worse off under this policy," Senator Stott Despoja said.
