Students demand fair fares

On September 2, the steps of the state library, and later Parliament House, were filled with more than 300 protesters for the second time this year. The rally demanded that international and post-graduate students be given the right to hold concession cards for public transport.

Students from the University of Melbourne, RMIT and colleges based in the city marched through the CBD chanting "full fare — not fair". The Graduate Students Association (GSA), the Indian Students Society, Socialist Alternative and Resistance all supported the rally.

Student activist Nigel Palmer told the rally that under the privatised college education system, "[international] students are treated like commodities, a source of profit". The treatment of international students was "unethical and unsustainable", he said.

Malaysian student Jeff Peeh said: "Concession card rights have been denied time and time again."

Greens state parliamentarian Greg Barber attended the rally and accepted a petition organised by the GSA and signed by 5000 people. Barber pledged to present a copy of the petition to the premier.

Denis Rogatyuk

From GLW issue 809