Ms Josephine Feehily:

Given our history of access, there are deep traditions in both our founding institutes to disadvantaged communities. I absolutely agree with the Senator. The access issue will not be enhanced by cutting the fees. The grant system is clearly of more relevance to our particular catchment areas. There is also a risk that cutting the fees, or the student contribution as it is known, might not give us additional funding because that will have to be topped up. That is why I focused on additionality. If we are getting money out of pot A today, and it comes out of pot B tomorrow, it is no good if it is not extra. The SUSI grant system is certainly more relevant to the student body in TUS, no question.