Queensland students fight upfront fees

BY SAM KING

BRISBANE — Students from the University of Queensland, Queensland University of Technology and Griffith University surrounded the UQ chancellery building on August 12. The 200-strong protest, organised by Campaign Against Fees (CAF), attempted to prevent the UQ senate from meeting.

On its agenda was a plan to allow UQ faculties to offer full-fee university places to domestic undergraduate students.

The senate had attempted to sneak this decision through in the first week after the mid-year break, but this was foiled when students blockaded all seven entrances to the chancellery building and the senators were trapped in the car park.

Prior to the senate's second attempt, a referendum organised by the student union resulted in 97% of students voting to reject fees.

CAF activist Stacey Brennan told Green Left Weekly that the "unelected and unaccountable" UQ senate has "attempted to operate in secret because they know staff and students disagree with deregulation and fees".

Unable to enter the chancellery, the senate meeting moved to the staff club. Students pursued the senators and rallied outside for an hour and a half. Several students scaled the pergola and drummed on the first-floor windows for an hour.

Despite the protest, the senate voted in favour of fees, a decision that the UQ student union is now appealing in the courts. The union argues that it violates university regulations to meet at another venue. Meanwhile, students are planning to rally again on August 21 to have the decision overturned.

From Green Left Weekly, August 21, 2002.

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From GLW issue 505