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AUSTRALIA
Fair fares now!

Denis Rogatyuk, Melbourne

8 May 2009

On April 29, the steps of Victorian Parliament were filled with the stomping feet of angry protesters. They had marched through the city demanding public transport concession fares for international and postgraduate students.

The event was organised by the University of Melbourne Graduate Student Association (GSA) and supported by the International Indian Students Organisation, Resistance and Socialist Alternative. It was well-attended by students from the University of Melbourne, RMIT, Cambridge College and a number of other schools.

The demand to grant full concession cards to international and postgraduate students has been growing for some time. The protesters said all students have the right to transport concessions — no matter what their education status or what kind of visa they have.

With the cost of student accommodation set to rise throughout the year, and with strict limits on getting work, life for international students will get harder.

Protesters pointed out that, while major party politicians spend billions of dollars trying to bail out corporate bosses, international and postgraduate students are struggling to survive.