Plans to Restore Uni Funding

Date: 03 July 2001

The Community and Public Sector Union, the University staff union welcomed today's Labor Opposition policy announcement to urgently increase funding to tertiary education.

The Report of the Knowledge Nation Taskforce is an overall policy blueprint to improve the nation's knowledge resources, recommending that overall public funding of universities be significantly increased.

"This is exactly what we recommended in our recent submission to the Senate inquiry on the capacity of Universities to meet Australia's higher education needs," said David Carey, Federal Secretary of the Union.

"The Union wants the funds put back to meet chronic staff shortfalls and equipment updates. Our research has shown that years of neglect are taking their toll on staff, the quality of service able to be provided as well as on the actual university buildings."

The CPSU welcomes this report and the proposed solutions, which also include improving staff development in universities. "The Union represents thousands of non-teaching 'General Staff' in Universities across Australia who will benefit if these policies are implemented", says Mr Carey.

"This report highlights the continuing funding crises which threatens the quality of Australian education by starving the sector of essential resources, including skilled staff."

For further information

Contact:	David Carey,
Union:	Labor Council of NSW
Phone:	(02) 92995655
Contact Mobile:	0418 233 923
WWW:	http://workers.labor.net.au/

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