The Greens welcome the start of the National Tertiary Education Union’s ‘Vote Smart’ television campaign today. 

“The higher education union is urging Australians to vote for the Australian Greens – the only party that won’t slash funding for Australia’s universities,” said Senator for Western Australia Scott Ludlam. 

“The NTEU is not only doing the right thing by university staff and students, but also the nation’s cultural life and economic prospects.  Cutting funding to higher education makes no sense on any level.  

The Australian Greens today called on Curtin University management to reverse any moves to make their academic workforce redundant and force them to reapply for a smaller pool of jobs. Curtin University has begun this process by spilling all academic positions across four schools, with at least 45 positions being abolished.

Greens Senator for Western Australia Scott Ludlam, a Curtin graduate, said the move was “beyond belief”.

Greens Senator for Western Australia Scott Ludlam will join academics and students Thursday morning in a united stand against the Federal Government's proposed funding cuts.

"This is a perverse kind of blackmail in which the Government claims we can't provide more funding to the nation's schools without targetting the nation's universities - we won't tolerate it," said Senator Ludlam.

Federal funding for training is in need of major reform to address skills shortages in Western Australia, WA Senator Scott Ludlam said today.

Research released this week by Pit Crew Management Consulting Services showed Western Australia's workforce will be able to meet only half the demand for ten key trades next year. Senator Ludlam said the three billion dollar investment over six years announced by Labor in the 2011-12 Federal Budget needs better planning to fill the gaps.

The Australian Greens will support the flood levy in the House of Representatives and the Senate after important gains from the Government on their proposed funding cuts.

Greens Leader Bob Brown, Deputy Leader Christine Milne and MP Adam Bandt took their concerns directly to the government and negotiated a good outcome that will release funding for flood recovery and protect key programs.