I have to say that when I saw that Steven Joyce had been appointed Tertiary Education Minister I thought it was probably not just about Anne Tolley struggling to handle her responsibilities.   There were any number of other Ministers who could have taken the Tertiary portfolio, but it was handed to the Nats number one strategist and the PMs close confidant.  This means that National want to “do” something in the tertiary portfolio.

Good. Tertiary Education is a vital area for our future, and it needs to develop and change in order to provide the graduates and the research that is so vital to our economy and society.  But what is it exactly that National wants to do?

Well, a clue this morning from John Key on Sunrise. He says there are ‘economic’ issues in the portfolio including

whether the student loan policy works and whether there can be improvements made.

Now Steven Joyce is a clever political operator, and he knows how popular the interest free student loan policy is, but it is true that the Nats are worried about the liabilities that the scheme gives them. Also remember that National has never liked interest free student loans. John Key said they were “irresponsible” and he would oppose the policy “with every bone in his body”.

We can’t ask written parliamentary questions for another week. So some journalist out there might like to ask Mr Key or Mr Joyce just what changes are in store for student loans?