Students defy police ban

By Zanny Begg

BRISBANE — The Brisbane Magistrates Court on April 22 banned a march by university students to Camp Solidarity and the MUA picket line at Fisherman Island. Although students agreed to 20 conditions set by the police, the magistrate ruled that the march could not go ahead the next day.

The National Union of Students' Queensland branch (NUSQ) issued a press release on the morning of April 23 saying the march would go ahead as planned, despite the ban. The MUA backed the students, describing Premier Rob Borbidge as making Queensland like "Nazi Germany".

More than 200 students travelling from their campuses in buses were stopped six kilometres from the camp by police. Students gathered on the side of the road in pouring rain and decided to march to the site. The police backed down and told the students that no arrests would be made.

Three kilometres from the camp the students were met by thousands of Transport Workers Union and MUA members who had marched from the camp to greet them. To triumphant shouts of "MUA, here to stay!" workers and students marched to the camp.

The rally was addressed by student activists and MUA organisers. Students presented the MUA with over $300 collected on campus. NUSQ also pledged $100 and promised to raise more money through collections on campus.

[Zanny Begg is the Brisbane Resistance organiser and the co-education officer for NUSQ.]

From GLW issue 315