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Joe Hockey video shows treasurer once protested against student fees Joe Hockey video shows treasurer once protested against student fees
(about 17 hours later)
Two weeks after delivering a budget seeking to push the cost burden onto students, a young Joe Hockey has emerged as the unlikely former leader of student protests against similar reforms.Two weeks after delivering a budget seeking to push the cost burden onto students, a young Joe Hockey has emerged as the unlikely former leader of student protests against similar reforms.
The 48-year-old treasurer may have reason to cringe at Nine News footage unearthed by Fairfax Media showing him protesting against the introduction of a $250 upfront charge planned by the Hawke government in 1987.The 48-year-old treasurer may have reason to cringe at Nine News footage unearthed by Fairfax Media showing him protesting against the introduction of a $250 upfront charge planned by the Hawke government in 1987.
Some critics say his federal budget means getting a degree could end up costing future students $120,000.Some critics say his federal budget means getting a degree could end up costing future students $120,000.
In the footage, Hockey, then 22 and president of the Sydney University student representative council, says: "We will continue to go out onto the streets and to protest, and actively encourage the public to support us in our campaign for free education."In the footage, Hockey, then 22 and president of the Sydney University student representative council, says: "We will continue to go out onto the streets and to protest, and actively encourage the public to support us in our campaign for free education."
Hockey, a law and arts student, also wrote on the subject for the University of Sydney newspaper Honi Soit attacking the kind of deregulation measure his own government is now proposing.Hockey, a law and arts student, also wrote on the subject for the University of Sydney newspaper Honi Soit attacking the kind of deregulation measure his own government is now proposing.
"The Liberal party, which released its education policy two weeks ago, promised to cut back funds to universities and, at the same time, leave the universities to charge whatever fee they wished," he wrote."The Liberal party, which released its education policy two weeks ago, promised to cut back funds to universities and, at the same time, leave the universities to charge whatever fee they wished," he wrote.
"Such a policy is suicidal for student welfare. We will have no effective voice in our own fortune.""Such a policy is suicidal for student welfare. We will have no effective voice in our own fortune."
Hockey was asked about the gap between his prior stance and the government's current policies during an interview with the Nine Network on Thursday.
"Well, what it proves is 27 years ago was the time when there was an argument about free education and that argument was lost," Hockey said.
"It was a very a different time … you know in those days the government was collecting 90% of the fee that was being paid and today it is a very different situation.
"There were no loans then, you had to pay the money upfront, and the campuses offered very little educational choice."
Hockey said the present government was offering "much wider choice, much greater opportunity for people to go to university because we are going to extend the loan scheme to Tafes and diploma courses and also apprentices".
He added: "And importantly, back then, 27 years ago, there was no real competition out of Asia and now we’re facing massive growing educational competition out of Asia. So we’ve got to focus on the next 27 years, not 27 years ago."