United front on university fees at risk of fracturing

By Andrew Trounson. SUPPORT for full deregulation of university fees among vice-chancellors is fracturing, with the head of Victoria University calling on the Abbott government to impose some price constraints on fees if it hopes to win Senate approval for its higher education bill.
“The federal government’s initial package represents a radical move toward deregulation with minimal safeguards against associated risks,” Peter Dawkins said yesterday.
A prominent economist, Professor Dawkins said “there is significant interest among vice-chancellors in a more moderate way forward (on deregulation)”. More...