Students Condemn Labor for Backdown on VSU Legislation

28/08/2005

On Thursday, about 1000 students and supporters shouted down Opposition spokesperson Jenny Macklin in anger at Labor's backdown over the Voluntary Student Unionism (VSU) legislation. The headquarters of the ALP was later occupied by 35-40 students for a short period of time. At the culmination of the rally, outside the old Treasury Building, Rebecca Barrigos said: "What we want to do, we want to give students back their voice. We want to say that we [will] defend our right to politically organise and we [will] defend our right to have a say on what happens on our campuses." Reports [ 1 | 2 ]
Video [ 1 ]

[Sydney student rally | Fight VSU ]

Monash Students Occupy and Run Campus Bar

17/08/2005

Students at Monash University Clayton continue to sustain the longest occupation in Monash University's recent history. In response to the University's planned closure of the campus bar, students have occupied, defended and self-managed the space for almost three weeks.

‘The Bar,’ previously owned and run by Monyx, Monash University’s commercial wing, was due to be shut down this semester as a result of poor management and to be turned into yet another corporate function-centre-for-hire. [Full Story]

Stop VSU | Student Strike

Anti-VSU protestors take to the streets

13/08/2005

A large crowd of hardy souls, including students, staff, unionists and supporters, braved Melbourne's icy weather on Wednesday to protest against the government's voluntary student unionism legislation. The event highlighted the devastating effects that the legislation will have on services for students in Australian universities.

Reports [ 1 | 2 ]

Background [What is VSU ? | National Union of Students]

Students protest against VSU

12/05/2005

Hundreds of students protested in downtown Melbourne yesterday against the Federal Government's proposed VSU legislation. Students argue that the bill, currently before parliament, will lead to a drastic reduction in the quality of university services and that it will profoundly affect disadvantaged students who rely on these services to help them get through their studies. Full Story

'fees are as important to a university as taxes are to a country - the whole of society needs schools, hospitals, roads and a police force, but could we fund them if taxes were not compulsory?' - student info sheet

[What is VSU ? | First National Day of Action 1 | First National Day of Action 2 ]

Report: Student Protest at VCA On June 17

Jun 18th 2004

Victorian College of the Arts students staged a small but lively protest on St Kilda Road on June 17, in what was supposed to be the day the VCA Council would meet to decide on HECS increases. The meeting was instead moved to the semester break on July 6, in an attempt to avoid confrontation with displeased students.

The Victorian College of Arts Student Union is very concerned about potential fee increases. "Fee increases are a concern for VCA students with recent Australian Council for the Arts figures demonstrating that more than half of Australia’s creative artists earn less than $7,300 per annum. The resolution of VCA’s funding crisis created by the Nelson reforms is still being negotiated between the (Department of Education, Science, and Training) DEST, the University of Melbourne and the VCA." [Full Report and Photos...]

Students Occupy RMIT Chancellory

Mar 31st 2004

A rally on the Student National Day of Action, which was attended by approximately 1500 people, concluded with the occupation of the seventh level of the RMIT building on the corner of Latrobe and Russell Streets in the city (the Vice Chancelor's office) by hundreds of students. The occupation was part of highly successful national day of action around Australia. The students were ejected from the offices at around 11pm last night. (Photos 1, 2, 3).

The students are speaking up to oppose higher HECS, more full-fee places, shutting out the poor, and commercialisation. "While these fee increases won't affect this generation of university students, accessible education is seen as a crucial democratic right," said one reporter.

All staff and security left the office soon after the occupation. The students' basic demands were that there be no fee increases. They also insisted that the Vice Chancellor meet personally with the occupiers, which she refused to do. They also refused to commit to not raising fees at RMIT.

Students circles, websites and email inboxes were inundated with scores of requests (1, 2) for support during the occupation, either with messages of solidarity, or having more people join them.

Protests were also held in Brisbane and Sydney, where police used pepper spray on students. The nation-wide electronic sit-in held before the protests had mixed success.

[Discuss | Sydney Indymedia | Brisbane Indymedia]

Student National Day of Action: Protest

Mar 28th 2004

Students all over Australia have been mobilising on their campuses against their universities' administrations compliance with the Government's changes to the university system (higher HECS, more full-fee places, shutting out the poor, commercialisation, etc). While many Vice-Chancellors say their hands are tied and they have to increase fees, five universities have so far voted not to increase HECS fees, with the Australian Catholic University citing moral and equity grounds for not doing so.

In a Student National Day of Action, a protest will be held on March 31 at the State Library in the city, at 2PM. An electronic sit-in of the Federal Education Department website will also be held at 12PM that day, until 2PM.

[National Union of Students | save.higher.ed | The Nelson Betrayal | FTA and Higher Education]

Electronic Sit-In Against Higher University Fees

Mar 27th 2004

The save.higher.ed collective is hosting an electronic sit-in of the Commonwealth Department of Education, Science and Training website to protest the increasing university fees. The collective is unhappy with the higher education changes made by the Federal Government late in 2003, which have allowed universities to increase their fees by up to 25% more. They are concerned that the increases are going to prevent working class and disadvantaged students from getting a university education.

From the action alert: "If you disagree with higher university fees, more student and household debt and fewer public places then join the electronic sit-in on Wednesday 31st of March 2004. This action is running along side the National Union of Student's National Day of Action." Log onto www.dest.gov.au at 12PM until 2PM in eastern states. Check the action alert for times in other states.

[Discuss | save.higher.ed | The Nelson Betrayal | Cyber Activism In Australia | DEST]

Government Screws Public Education System In 'New' Education Package

Mar 20th 2004

On March 11, Prime Minister John Howard and the Federal Education Minister Brendan Nelson announced that the Federal government will spend $31.8 billion on State, private and Catholic school education over the next 4 years. The Government boasts that this is a lucrative increase in its 'new' education funding package.

The Treasurer, however, had released similar figures during the last May budget. According to the last budget papers, Federal government funding would hit $30.9 billion over the next 4 years. This year, there is a $400 million increase on education. On closer inspection, it appears that this funding increase will not benefit the public school system at all. An extra $362 million has already been promised to Catholic schools, while the extra $38 million will be spent on a propaganda package to highlight this education package.

Many feel that the Federal Government is failing to address a fundamental imbalance between private and public schools. One commentator points out that the Commonwealth Government allocates only $1,000 for each State school pupil, but $4,500 for each private school pupil, despite the fact that 70% of students attend State schools and 30% attend private schools. State schools are only going to receive an increase in Commonwealth expenditure of about 19% over the next 4 years, while some elite private schools will receive increases of between 150% to 300%.

[Discuss | Australian Education Union]