ACT to campaign on making Student Services Fees voluntary

ACT will campaign to make Student Services Fees voluntary – a move that would offer students real cost relief and ensure they are not forced to fund union activity.

“Every domestic university student currently pays a compulsory Student Services Fee of up to $1,253 a year on top of tuition. Across a three-year degree this can add more than $4,000 to a student’s loan*. Because student loans are subsidised by the taxpayer, the compulsory fee also costs the taxpayer," says ACT Tertiary Education spokesperson Dr Parmjeet Parmar.

“In 2011 ACT passed Voluntary Student Membership. As a result, students are no longer forced to join a student union. But universities have undermined the spirit of Voluntary Student Membership by absorbing the old association fee into a compulsory levy that students still cannot refuse. So, true freedom of association remains unfinished business.

“ACT will amend the regulations so universities must offer student services as a menu. Students would select the services they want and pay only for those, from fitness facilities to students unions and student media. Services not chosen would still be available on a transparent user-pays basis.

“Students should not be forced to fund unions, advocacy or student media they do not support. That is a matter of principle for ACT.

“Right now, student unions are running political campaigns to influence the election. They might even campaign to stop this policy. Students are forced to fund this activism, even if they disagree with it. ACT says unions are free to campaign, but no-one should be forced to fund them.

“Voluntary fees mean better-run services. If a union or any other university service struggles to attract willing subscribers, it can do what any other organisation or business does – improve its offering, or scale back its spending.

“ACT's policy will also restore the independence of unions to challenge university leadership. Unions are meant to hold the bosses to account, but there's a huge conflict of interest when they're dependent on the university for funding.

“Our policy would let students save up to around $4,000 on their student loan over the course of a degree. It would also save the taxpayer money, because student debt is subsidised. We will complete the unfinished business of Voluntary Student Membership and restore genuine choice.”

Editor's note:

*After annual increases to the fee.