Student Services and Amenities Fee

The majority voted against a motion introduced by Family First Senator Bob Day, which asked that students at each campus should be able to decide for themselves whether or not pay the Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) with a mandatory ballot each year.

Wording of the motion

That the Senate—

(a) notes that:

(i) over one million Australian tertiary students are forced to pay up to $286 per year as a Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF),

(ii) students at the moment have very little say in how the SSAF monies are spent by their universities and student associations, and

(iii) SSAF is levied regardless of students' need, willingness and ability to access the services and activities they are paying for; and

(b) calls on the Government to amend the Higher Education Support Act so That the SSAF can only be levied with the support of the majority of students at each university campus in a mandatory ballot conducted once an academic year.