University graduates may be taxed

Press, 21 May 1988, Page 8

University graduates may be taxed

By

JENNY LONG

A tax on new university graduates to recoup some costs of educating students is being considered by a tertiary education working party, says the president of the Lincoln College Students’ Association, Mr Jeff Montgomery.

The working party was set up by the Government, and is chaired by a university economist, Professor Gary Hawke. Mr Montgomery said the Government had

refused to state the terms of reference for the working party. “Clearly the terms are being kept a closely guarded secret. “We know they are considering a graduate tax and we suspect they are looking again at user-pays and loans. "Previous reviews and the public have been completely opposed to these.”

The Hawke committee came after a series of reviews into tertiary education, and Mr Montgom-

ery questioned the need for another.

The working party will report to Cabinet’s social equity • committee within the next few months. Professor Hawke, of Victoria University, refused to comment yesterday on the working party, and its considerations, referring all questions to the Deputy Prime Minister, Mr Palmer, who chairs the social equity committee. Mr Palmer could not be reached for comment.