House debates Questions without Notice
Higher Education
Amanda Rishworth Kingston, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Health
2:27 pm
My question is to the Deputy Prime Minister. Universities Australia says the government's changes to higher education could quadruple the cost of a nursing degree to $98,000. Why is the government unfairly targeting nurses with this cruel budget?
Warren Truss Wide Bay, National Party, Leader of the Nationals
Clearly this government, in this budget, is providing substantial funding to increase expenditure on hospitals, and that will provide additional employment opportunities for nurses. Therefore, this is a budget that is very fair to nurses. It is very fair to the medical system and the provision of medical services.
Mr Conroy interjecting—
Warren Truss Wide Bay, National Party, Leader of the Nationals
There is a nine per cent increase in expenditure for health in this budget. There is nine per cent in the following year. There is nine per cent the year after. That will provide substantial new employment opportunities for nurses.
Mr Conroy interjecting—
Warren Truss Wide Bay, National Party, Leader of the Nationals
Let me make it absolutely clear—
Mr Tony Burke Watson, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Finance
Madam Speaker, I rise on a point of order on relevance. The question about budget cuts was asked about five questions ago; this one is about tertiary education fees.
Warren Truss Wide Bay, National Party, Leader of the Nationals
The question was about the cost of the degree and therefore the employment opportunities of nurses. So I am responding absolutely correctly. Under the new system, there will be better paid opportunities in the future that will allow people to repay their HECS debt.
Ms Macklin interjecting—
Warren Truss Wide Bay, National Party, Leader of the Nationals
This will result in continuing the training and building of the workforce in the health sector. The reality is that this is a government that cares deeply about ensuring that the health system of our nation is sustainable. We know that we will need more nurses in the future to ensure that that health care can be provided, especially in an ageing society. That is why we are reforming the higher education system to enable more nurses to be trained, therefore enabling us to better meet our responsibilities for health care as a nation in the years ahead.