Students to target the ALP on May 3
By Emma Webb
ADELAIDE - The South Australian Education Network, formed to organise South Australia's contribution to the No Fees for Degrees campaign, is planning a rally and march to target the ALP for the National Day of Action on May 3.
Students will be assembling at Victoria Square at 1pm and marching to ALP headquarters on South Terrace. Outside the ALP office a rally will be held with speakers focusing on how fees affect access to education for women and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
Other speakers will take up how the attacks on education fit into a broader attack by the ALP on the rights and living conditions of the community. Messages of solidarity from trade unions will also be given.
From the rally, students will be marching into the ALP office, holding a sit-in and presenting the demands of the campaign. SAEN has also planned a tent city vigil from May 3 to 9, when the federal budget is presented. A budget night rally will be held, as a chance for students and other sections of the community to voice their anger.
SAEN was invited to address a Trades and Labour Council meeting, to explain and ask for support. Trade unions were encouraged to bring banners, send messages of support, put out media releases in support of the action and come to the budget night action. Other community networking is planned, particularly with high school students.
SAEN is encouraging and organising general student meetings on Tuesday, May 2, to organise students for the next day's events.