The man responsible for developing the original legislation and administrative framework that implemented HECS is now calling for a review of whether the current system is the fairest way to ensure students make an equitable contribution to the cost of their education.

John Mullarvey told graduates at this week's CQU Rockhampton ceremony (March 12) that he did not believe the current scheme could be called a 'contribution scheme' when the level of debt now incurred by students was more than a simple contribution.

"In some disciplines, students are paying almost the full cost of the course," he said.

John Mullarvey

"For example in the law discipline the Commonwealth provides $1528 per student per annum but the student has to contribute $8333 per annum.

"Of course the broader community, particularly those that do not attend university, will continue to argue that students obtain a private benefit from a university qualification and therefore they should make a contribution to the cost of providing that education. Few would disagree with the general proposition.

"Despite this view it is unfortunate that all governments, once a tax or charge has been introduced, tend to simply look to increasing the level rather than asking, on a regular basis, whether the current policies are appropriate for the country and its people".

Mr Mullarvey told graduates that the current system differs dramatically from the original HECS.

He said the original HECS was an income contingent loan scheme which was meant as only a contribution to the cost of providing university programs.

It provided equity in that each student contributed the same amount irrespective of what course they undertook.
  "As one who grew up in the country, without the opportunities that currently exist to participate in a university education, I was excited by the prospects of the original HECS because it was aimed at providing the opportunity for all Australians to attend university, not just the elite".

John Mullarvey was until recently the CEO and Company Secretary of the AVCC (Australian Vice-Chancellor's Committee), the council of Australia's university presidents and the peak industry lobby group for Australia's universities. Before that, he was a long-serving and high-ranking federal public servant whose portfolio included education.

Mr Mullarvey has been publicly recognised for his effectiveness in steering the members of AVCC through the Government's 2003 Higher Education Review process. He was ranked as the third most influential individual across the public and private sectors influencing the higher education agenda by the Australian Financial Review (AFR Magazine 26, September 2003). In this capacity he was instrumental in the negotiation of significant, constructive policy and legislative changes to the benefit of Australia's universities.

In 2004, John was again cited as one of the top five most influential players in higher education (Australian Financial Review 30 July, 2004) for his ability to negotiate acceptable outcomes for the sector and provide effective guidance for the 38 members of the AVCC during an intense period of advocacy for the passage of the new higher education legislation.

During the graduation ceremony, Mr Mullarvey was admitted to the honorary degree of Doctor of the University in recognition of his services to education policy reform.