Students rally against VSU

August 3, 1994
Issue 

By Daniel Board

MELBOURNE — A 1000-strong, spirited demonstration was held here on the July 28 by students outraged at the prospect of losing their student unions. This rally was part of an ongoing campaign for the repeal of Victorian Voluntary Student Unionism (VSU) legislation.

VSU is an attack on student unions whereby students will be compelled to pay a compulsory fee but will have no say over how it is spent. A catch-cry of the campaign, which sums up the intent of the legislation, has been: "Student Control Of Student Affairs".

The rally marched via the office of the Director of Public Prosecutions to highlight the upcoming case of the Austudy Five. Jeff Sparrow, representing the Five, explained how they had been arrested in dawn raids following a demonstration to save Austudy in 1992. Student activists, trade unionists and others have condemned the case as being a political frame-up and an attack on the right to organise. Thousands of names on petitions calling for the charges to be dropped were handed to the DPP.

The rally proceeded to parliament house where speakers explained that recent intervention by the federal government was no solution for student unions. Federal minister, Simon Crean has recently introduced legislation that offers to fund student unions affected by VSU. Marc Morel, representing TAFE students explained that, in addition to ignoring TAFE students, the federal legislation would undermine their autonomy by forcing student unions to rely on government funding. In addition, it would offer no solution if a Liberal government were elected federally.

Student protests in Western Australia have forced the state government to retreat on VSU for the moment and the Victorian campaign has drawn inspiration from this. Students have vowed to continue the campaign until VSU is repealed and Kennett's anti-union agenda is overturned.

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