Mr Pyne told Insiders universities who hit students with excessive fees would be priced out of the market. “If universities think they can get away with charging exorbitant fees I think you’ll find that they’ll face very intense competition,” he said. “For example in Melbourne, if Melbourne University thinks they can charge ‘x amount’ for a university degree, Monash, Latrobe, [or] Deakin - others will compete with them on price, forcing prices down.” Mr Pyne said it was too early to be speculating about specific fee changes. [ABC]Christopher Pyne has been one of the loudest voices in federal government since last September. His sound is by turns triumphalist and neurotic. As with certain other members of the cabinet it is now clear that the official title of his portfolio is a shabby misrepresentation. He shouldn’t simply resign. He should be tarred and feathered by his own constituents, dragged through the streets of Adelaide and dumped from a great height into the deepest bend of the Torrens at low tide. Then a very patient person from any university should sit with him and explain the tortuous process involved for getting a research grant in this country, including all the political dodging one must do to ensure the likes of Pyne don’t get all uppity at the notion of research projects that might challenge his very narrow worldview. If he understands before the tide rises, then he can be released, otherwise he can test his market principles according to the method of King Canute.
If anyone in Canberra geniunely believes the neoliberal fantasy that universities will compete on price, then I have a bridge to sell. Dead cheap.
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