Student group keen on new fee: Uni sport boost

DEAKIN University Football Netball Club is set to benefit under the Federal Government's proposed amenities fee before Federal Parliament this week.Deakin University Student Association (DUSA) president Cayla Edwards said the student group would be able to afford to contribute to the club if the $250 per student fee was introduced mid-year."The amenities fee will reinvigorate a number of student services at the Warrnambool campus including student media, advocacy and sporting groups," she said. "DUSA hasn't been able to afford to give funding to the Sharks since the introduction of voluntary student unionism a couple of year ago, but if the bill goes ahead we will be able to return to donating to the club."Ms Edwards said regional university campuses like Warrnambool were hardest hit by the change to student union membership introduced by the Howard Government in 2006."This funding is critical for university sporting groups as trials and competitions are usually held in Melbourne and Geelong and the travel, food and uniform expenses to compete in them means many students have missed out," Ms Edwards said.The proposed fee is not without its critics with the Opposition accusing the Government in Federal Parliament this week of reintroducing compulsory student unionism.Deakin University Liberal Students president Aaron Lane said the fee was an unnecessary extra cost for students."Services including health care, counselling, study skills, job matching, careers and employment, financially assistance, and chaplaincy are all currently provided by the university, not by DUSA," he said.