Melbourne march

Melbourne march

By Jim Elliott and Rachel Evans

MELBOURNE — Three hundred angry students attended the fifth anti-voluntary student unionism demonstration on August 31. The Student Unionism Network (SUN) organised the rally and general student meetings on various campuses prior to the event.

Protesters marched to DEET offices. Speakers included Kate Wait of NUS, who talked about the federal government's plans for up-front tertiary fees. A student from the Australian National University spoke on the campaign against up-front fees. A motion of solidarity with ANU students was passed.

At Parliament House, a TAFE spokesperson outlined the effect of VSU on TAFE. It will be impossible for Victorian TAFE Students and Apprentices Network to obtain funding in the way it is now received.

A SUN spokesperson outlined the need to continue the campaign against the VSU legislation, because students need to be able to organise in the face of continued state and federal government attacks.

From GLW issue 158