I hear what you are saying but not sure if I agree.
I don't think it is a question of education standards but of general practise. We all treat aches and injuries, we all have health cover rebates, we all lobby the governement for more service provision opportunities. Hence I do believe that the other professions having vastly more dollars to do this lobbying will give them a competitive advantage. And they do get a competitive advantage (some of this to do with the perception of a degree being a higher standard of education).

I therefore agree that we should probably pay higher fees to match their lobbying power. The alternative doesn't seem very bright does it? Less lobbying power, less future prospects.

And the perception of a degree being a 'higher' standard needs to be addressed. Since when does an academic edcucation facility (uni with degrees) provded a better education for a service profession? TAFES are better suited to our profession, and I would argue that for chiro, osteo etc. Those that want to further their academic needs/wants can go on to do a degree to satisfy their research aspirations. But everyone doing a degree doesnt make any sense to me - especially when only a tiny, tiny percentage of manual therapists ever go onto research.

In summary, i would pay more to lobby those bodies necessary to secure greater working potentials for our unique skill set.