Students debate anti-VSU strategy

By Sean Healy MELBOURNE A state-wide meeting to discuss strategies to fight the Kennett government's "voluntary student unionism" legislation was held on November 20. Organised by the Student Unionism Network, the meeting was attended by more than 80 people, with representatives from nearly all Victorian universities as well as representatives from student organisations in the TAFE sector. Voluntary student unionism (VSU) legislation, which seeks to restrict the funding and activities of student organisations, was passed by the state Liberal government in late 1994, with this, the first year student organisations have had to deal with VSU. The meeting attempted to work out a state-wide approach for student organisations' fight against VSU in 1996. The meeting discussed the likely impact of federal funding from the Department of Education, Employment and Training, for those activities prescribed under the VSU legislation. If student organisations rely on this, they will run into significant problems as DEET has announced that funding will cease (possibly only temporarily) as soon as the federal election is called. This may leave some activities — such as student newspapers — unfunded. Representatives from TAFE student organisations, which are ineligible for DEET funding, also addressed the meeting. VSU has hit the TAFE sector hard, with three TAFE student organisations folding in the last 12 months. A solidarity motion with TAFE student organisations was passed pledging support for a campaign for any student organisation closed by college directors. There was also some debate on the demands relating to VSU. Some advocated a strategy of unconditional refusal to sign "funding agreements" — agreements between the universities and student unions on the terms under which administrations would transfer general service fee monies to students — claiming that such agreements equal the implementation of VSU. Others argued against making funding agreements the main focus, arguing that the campaign should be focussed on increasing student organisation's control of general service fee (GSF) funds, and forcing universities to fund a range of activities currently not allowed for under VSU through the GSF. VSU also looks likely to be a major topic for discussion at the upcoming National Education Conference to be held on December 4 and 5.