Tony Abbott (Warringah, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Hansard source

and I have to say it will be the most advantageous loan they ever receive under the conditions that this government has put forward. I simply reject this suggestion that there is something fundamentally wrong with a deregulated university system. I simply reject the idea being peddled by members opposite that our universities are not capable of governing themselves and that prospective students are not capable of making intelligent decisions about their future. And I am not alone in my support for a deregulated university system. Let me quote:

Market based HECS—

that is to say, market based fees—

will also help to improve our higher education system by making universities even more responsive to student needs and educational outcomes …

Well, who was this wise man? Who was this guru, this sage, this seer, this prophet? None other than Labor's Assistant Treasurer. I can understand why not too many of his colleagues want to sit next to him—I think at the moment he's got a bit of a communicable disease down there! Do you know what it is? It's common sense—only it's not very catching with members opposite!

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