News Briefs

Students protest against Nelson

PERTH — Around 100 students rallied outside a meeting to discuss federal minister for education Brendan Nelson's proposed changes to higher education. The meeting on August 20 was billed as a "public consultation", yet entry was denied to students and staff.

Nelson aims to further shift the burden of the cost of education to students. Rally participants carried out a die-in to symbolise the death of public education. A contingent of members from the Community and Public Sector Union and the National Tertiary Education Industry Union also attended the rally.

Students organise against attacks

LISMORE — Thirty people met on August 14 to discuss launching a campaign against the federal government's attacks on higher education.

Speakers from the National Union of Students, the National Tertiary Education Industry Union and the Southern Cross University (SCU) Student Representative Council, which organised the event, outlined the attacks contained in the recently released review of higher education by education minister Brendan Nelson. The threatened closure of the Port Macquarie campus of SCU was also discussed.

The SCU Education Action Group will be holding a discussion and training weekend on August 31-September 1. Phone (02) 6620 3044 for more information.

Beware the 'Ruddocks'

CANBERRA — Brochures warning of the danger to public health posed by "ruddocks" virus were handed to guests arriving at a dinner here on August 21. Dinner guest, federal immigration minister Philip Ruddock, spoke on the topic, "Where are we going with immigration".

The pamphlets explained that symptoms of the "ruddocks", a recently identified and highly contagious social disease, included a mental condition typified by "refusing to do anything that could assist asylum seekers and refugees".

The virus is known to be particularly contagious when incubated in a climate of fear, the pamphlets explained. However, refugees' rights activists are working around the clock delivering a vaccine to prevent more Australians being struck down by the "ruddocks". Regular doses of compassion and human solidarity cure the malady.

The guests were offered heart-shaped appetizers at the door by 30 picketers. "There'll be no peace until the refugees are free", activists chanted as Ruddock scuttled through the back door.

Socialist Alliance to contest Auburn

SYDNEY — The Parramatta branch of the Socialist Alliance voted on August 20 to contest the lower-house seat of Auburn in the next NSW election. The branch is also considering contesting a second seat, possibly Granville.

Thirty Socialist Alliance members attended the meeting, which heard Leyla Mohammed of the Worker Communist Party of Iraq describe situation of the Iraqi people after more than 10 years of US bombing and economic sanctions. The meeting decided to hold a protest rally against a US war on Iraq. It will be held in Auburn on the evening of September 20.

From Green Left Weekly, August 28, 2002.

Visit the Green Left Weekly home page.

From GLW issue 506