BASS Liberal MHR Andrew Nikolic says the creation of a new University of Tasmania campus at Inveresk cannot happen if the government's deregulation bill does not pass the Senate. The university has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the state government, Launceston City Council and TasTAFE to investigate how best to plan for a new, $200 million campus. UTAS vice-chancellor Peter Rathjen says the new campus was a crucial part of the university's plan for shorter, cheaper and more vocational courses to bring higher education to 10,000 more Tasmanians a year. But Mr Nikolic said the additional students and the need for a new campus were both contingent on the government's controversial plan to deregulate university fees. "Those higher education reforms were the mechanism by which HECS would be extended to pre-degree courses and that additional throughput ... would then justify the need for additional facilities," he said. "So they're linked ... this was always proposed in the context of the higher education reforms." Professor Rathjen said the Commonwealth would need to be an "important partner" in the project. "They share our aspiration to see more Tasmanians get educated, they share our aspiration to have a new economy down here based around education," he said. Treasurer Peter Gutwein said the project, to which the government has committed to supporting through a $60 million Northern infrastructure fund, was key to securing the university's future in Launceston as well as revitalising the city. "We will continue to work with the federal government to bring this project to fruition," he said. "Like us, they realise that this project will create thousands of jobs, economic growth for the North and transform Launceston for decades to come."
BASS Liberal MHR Andrew Nikolic says the creation of a new University of Tasmania campus at Inveresk cannot happen if the government's deregulation bill does not pass the Senate.
The university has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the state government, Launceston City Council and TasTAFE to investigate how best to plan for a new, $200 million campus.
UTAS vice-chancellor Peter Rathjen says the new campus was a crucial part of the university's plan for shorter, cheaper and more vocational courses to bring higher education to 10,000 more Tasmanians a year.
But Mr Nikolic said the additional students and the need for a new campus were both contingent on the government's controversial plan to deregulate university fees.
"Those higher education reforms were the mechanism by which HECS would be extended to pre-degree courses and that additional throughput ... would then justify the need for additional facilities," he said.
"So they're linked ... this was always proposed in the context of the higher education reforms."
Professor Rathjen said the Commonwealth would need to be an "important partner" in the project.
"They share our aspiration to see more Tasmanians get educated, they share our aspiration to have a new economy down here based around education," he said.
Treasurer Peter Gutwein said the project, to which the government has committed to supporting through a $60 million Northern infrastructure fund, was key to securing the university's future in Launceston as well as revitalising the city.
"We will continue to work with the federal government to bring this project to fruition," he said.
"Like us, they realise that this project will create thousands of jobs, economic growth for the North and transform Launceston for decades to come."
