Alliance Says National Not Serious About Dealing With Student Debt
Alliance tertiary education spokesperson Richard Mitchell says that Mr Key is right to be concerned about the number of
qualified New Zealanders leaving the country but the idea of bonding then shows that National is not serious about
dealing with the issue.
If National leader John Key was serious about "the number of young graduates that are completing their qualification
here in New Zealand and leaving," then he would do more than bond them to a rural area.
New Zealand's major hospitals are having major problems finding and keeping qualified and experienced doctors and
insisting that they go to a rural area will only make matters worse.
If New Zealand is to keep its doctors here then we must do more than this, says Mr Mitchell. The Alliance policy is to
wipe all loans and fees for all students, not just Doctors.
If New Zealand's new doctors were not faced with massive loans, loan repayments and were paid a decent wage then they
would be less likely to leave our shores Mr Mitchell says referring to the recent (on going) doctor's strike.
Alliance health spokesperson, Tom Dowie also reminds New Zealand that only the Alliance is prepared to make doctor's
consultations and prescriptions free. Only the Alliance is committed to keeping New Zealand's remaining rural hospitals
open. The only way to do this is to ensure our doctors do not leave because of heavy loans, low pay and excessive
workloads.
Education should be free. Healthcare should be free. Only the Alliance is prepared to make the necessary investment to
make this a reality!
ENDS