"Jenny Shipley claimed today that it is butchers, farmers, panel beaters and ditch diggers that pay for Tertiary
Education. This says more about National's tax policy than their education policy," said Karen Skinner Co-President of
the New Zealand University Students Association.
"A progressive taxation policy would allow us a health system that could actually heal the sick, and a quality education
system open to all" said Ms Skinner
"There is a massive amount of wealth in this country, but also a massive amount of disadvantage and poverty" says Tanja
Schutz, Co President. "A progressive taxation system will help lessen the gap between the rich and the poor."
"I challenge Jenny Shipley to tell us why it is that only those who are rich enough to pay fees should be allowed to
participate in tertiary education?" says Ms Skinner "If the loan scheme is so great, why is student debt growing out of
control.? What are the long term effects of this $3 billion
debt?
"These are the questions that Jenny Shipley has failed to answer in her speech, and National has failed to answer in
their entire term as government" said Ms Skinner. "Once again all Shipley has said are the same old tired myths about
education, who benefits from it and students ability to pay. How high does debt have to get before she realise's that
this user-pays system is not working".