There a few key elements to winning a federal election, and good policy is undoubtedly among them. With Labor pitching for the top job, their policies will come under increasing scrutiny as polling day approaches.

So far, Kevin Rudd has given his enthusiastic support for the Howard government’s policies on a range of issues: fiscal policy, the NT intervention, funding for hospitals, and forestry in Tasmania, among others. But what are Labor’s policies?

In a bid to paint an accurate policy picture of the alternative government, Crikey has been asking shadow ministers what they are offering the Australian people.

Today, Crikey has sent the following questions to Stephen Smith, Shadow Minister for Education. We hope to publish his responses tomorrow.

  1. The Education Revolution is a broad positioning document which speaks about the role of education in Australia’s future productivity. Can you now detail Labor’s practical policies and spending commitments for tertiary education that were foreshadowed in that document?
  2. Will Labor continue the Higher Education Endowment Form announced in this year’s budget in its current form?
  3. When is your deadline for phase out full-fee paying places?
  4. How will you offer the “HECS relief and remission” you mentioned in your speech at the AFR’s Higher Education Summit in April 2007?
  5. In the same speech you mentioned “scholarships for the best and brightest, scholarships for low SES students, and scholarships for particular disciplines” — how much money will you invest in these scholarships and for what disciplines?
  6. You responded to this OECD report by stating that Labor was committed to increase funding at every level — when will you release details of this funding?