Sign of times as union targets MP

Unions have targeted the marginal federal seat of Corangamite in a national campaign against deregulation of university fees.
A billboard protesting the Abbott Government’s plan appeared on the Princes Hwy near Deakin University’s Waurn Ponds campus this week.
The Government is preparing to table amended deregulation legislation, which the National Tertiary Union (NTEU) warned could usher in “$100,000 degrees” with funding cuts that would be “fatal” for Deakin University.
“We want to send a clear message to Christopher Pyne and the Abbott Government that the vast majority of the Geelong community are opposed to deregulation of higher education and concerned about the impact it will have on our university,” said NTEU Deakin branch vice-president Zak Hughes.
“Further funding cuts will make it impossible for academics to do our jobs. We are already squeezed by a budget which means we have too many students and not enough time to spend with them, let alone having time for research.”
The NTEU campaign follows similar union action in Corangamite against the Government’s proposed free trade agreement with China. The Liberals won back Corangamite from Labor at the last federal election but hold the seat with a margin of less than four per cent.
The Independent was unable to obtain comment on the NTEU campaign from Corangamite MP Sarah Henderson or Deakin.
Deakin announced a fees freeze after the Government first proposed the deregulation last year.