This edition of the Higher Education Update e-newsletter covers Senator Simms' background in the higher education sector, the successful #stoplomborg campaign, the Overseas HELP Bill, campaigning to save Start-Up Scholarships, concerning developments in the VET FEE-HELP sector, the need to save Radio Adelaide, and more. Simply click the link below to download the PDF.

The Greens have called on Education Minister Simon Birmingham to rule out lowering the HELP (HECS) repayment threshold following media reports the idea is being considered.

"HECS debt can take a significant slice out of your income. Lowering the repayment threshold will place an increased burden on low income earners at a time when cuts to penalty rates and an increase in the GST are already on the table," said Greens Higher Education Spokesperson, Robert Simms.

The Australian Greens have called on the NSW Government to stop pulling stunts with the state's TAFE sector and prioritise its funding.

"Freezing TAFE fees will not bring students back. Enrolments are already down dramatically and a fee freeze is nothing but a desperate stop-gap measure," The Greens spokesperson on Higher Education, Senator Robert Simms said.

"Cuts and fee increases from the NSW Government have contributed to driving people away from TAFE and it is imperative that we reverse these cuts, challenge the contestability model and adequately fund the sector.

The Australian Greens have called on the NSW Government to stop pulling stunts with the state's TAFE sector and prioritise its funding.

"Freezing TAFE fees will not bring students back. Enrolments are already down dramatically and a fee freeze is nothing but a desperate stop-gap measure," The Greens spokesperson on Higher Education, Senator Robert Simms said.

"Cuts and fee increases from the NSW Government have contributed to driving people away from TAFE and it is imperative that we reverse these cuts, challenge the contestability model and adequately fund the sector.

The Australian Greens have warned NSW against stripping funding to TAFEs across the state, warning similar collapses could happen like those interstate.

The Greens spokesperson on High Education, Senator Robert Simms, questioned why the NSW Government would make such a decision when the for-profit VET sector is in such a shambles.

"The for-profit VET sector is currently in a deep state of disrepair in NSW and across the country. Indeed, the NSW Government has deregistered eight companies this year for malpractice," Senator Simms said.

The Greens welcome Malcolm Turnbull's commitment to university research, but are concerned about the increased focus on industry engagement with universities in the Government's announcement.

The Government today announced its intention to consolidate all Research Block Grants into two streams and that research funding from these grants would be increasingly allocated to an industry engagement metric to be developed by the ARC.

The Greens joined with the Government, Labor and crossbenchers to support a raft of changes through the Senate that will help arrest the worst of the malpractices in the for-profit VET sector.

"These changes will provide much needed protections for students however they still falls short of the overhaul required. For as long as we have private for profit providers receiving public funds, students are at risk of exploitation," Greens spokesperson for Higher Education, Senator Robert Simms said.

The Greens have slammed the Government and Labor for banding together and exhuming Labor's 2013 higher education cuts, leaving students in the lurch.

A deal was reached between the two old parties today that will see add an extra $6000 of debt for the average Bachelor student receiving Youth Allowance or Austudy.

"This news will send a shiver down the spine of students and the higher education sector," said Greens Higher Education Spokesperson, Senator Robert Simms.