ANNE STANLEY MP
OPPOSITION WHIP
MEMBER FOR WERRIWA

FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FAILS WESTERN SYDNEY EDUCATION

Anne Stanley MP, Federal Member for Werriwa, has hit out at the Federal Government for its failure to support tertiary education as part of a post-COVID-19 economic recovery for Western Sydney.  
 
Under recent changes announced by the Morrison Government, on average, students will pay higher university fees, with the cost of some degrees more than doubling.  

“These changes make absolutely no sense from an economic or educational perspective.  

“Unfortunately, those that will be hardest hit will be young people in our region and institutions like Western Sydney University.  

“Our kids deserve the same educational opportunities as those that were afforded to the members of Scott Morrison’s cabinet,” she said. 

“Education is Australia’s third largest export industry, with international education exports alone reportedly contributing over $37bn to the economy each year,” said Ms Stanley. 
 
“The Australian economy will need to be reshaped as we come out of COVID-19, and there are many opportunities ahead for education – particularly the establishment of a STEM multiversity at Western Sydney Aerotropolis. 
 
“Universities need real action to support staff and ongoing operations to ensure these opportunities are not lost,” she said. 
 
“Despite a disappointing lack of support and action from the Federal Government during this COVID-19 crisis, WSU is leading the way. 

“WSU has been a key driver in the transformation of Western Sydney over the last 30 years and is now supporting the economic recovery of the region through employment, education and construction.  
 
“With the airport and aerotropolis providing the catalyst, a post-recession recovery provides an opportunity for Western Sydney to lead the country in the key industries that will shape a post-COVID Australian economy: education, research, health, agriculture, advanced manufacturing and logistics. 

“However, that opportunity will be missed if the Federal Government continues to ignore the tertiary education sector and the important role it has to play in that recovery” she said.