Melbourne Indymedia

Student Unions under attack

Melbourne Indymedia — 2005-11-10T23:07:26

On Thursday, about 1000 students and supporters shouted down Opposition spokesperson Jenny Macklin in anger at Labor's backdown over the Voluntary Student Unionism (VSU) legislation. The headquarters of the ALP was later occupied by 35-40 students for a short period of time. At the culmination of the rally, outside the old Treasury Building, Rebecca Barrigos said: "What we want to do, we want to give students back their voice. We want to say that we [will] defend our right to politically organise and we [will] defend our right to have a say on what happens on our campuses." Reports [ 1 | 2 ]
Video [ 1 ]

[Sydney student rally | Fight VSU ]

Students Squat Bar

Melbourne Indymedia — 2005-11-10T23:10:21

Students at Monash University Clayton continue to sustain the longest occupation in Monash University's recent history. In response to the University's planned closure of the campus bar, students have occupied, defended and self-managed the space for almost three weeks.

�The Bar,� previously owned and run by Monyx, Monash University�s commercial wing, was due to be shut down this semester as a result of poor management and to be turned into yet another corporate function-centre-for-hire. [Full Story]

Stop VSU | Student Strike

Students protest to defend unions

Melbourne Indymedia — 2005-11-10T23:28:57

A large crowd of hardy souls, including students, staff, unionists and supporters, braved Melbourne's icy weather on Wednesday to protest against the government's voluntary student unionism legislation. The event highlighted the devastating effects that the legislation will have on services for students in Australian universities.

Reports [ 1 | 2 ]

Background [What is VSU ? | National Union of Students]

Protest to defend student unions

Melbourne Indymedia — 2005-05-19T03:01:18

Hundreds of students protested in downtown Melbourne yesterday against the Federal Government's proposed VSU legislation. Students argue that the bill, currently before parliament, will lead to a drastic reduction in the quality of university services and that it will profoundly affect disadvantaged students who rely on these services to help them get through their studies. Full Story

'fees are as important to a university as taxes are to a country - the whole of society needs schools, hospitals, roads and a police force, but could we fund them if taxes were not compulsory?' - student info sheet

[What is VSU ? | First National Day of Action 1 | First National Day of Action 2 ]

Nelson Reforms

Melbourne Indymedia — 2004-06-24T05:41:52

Victorian College of the Arts students staged a small but lively protest on St Kilda Road on June 17, in what was supposed to be the day the VCA Council would meet to decide on HECS increases. The meeting was instead moved to the semester break on July 6, in an attempt to avoid confrontation with displeased students.

The Victorian College of Arts Student Union is very concerned about potential fee increases. "Fee increases are a concern for VCA students with recent Australian Council for the Arts figures demonstrating that more than half of Australia�s creative artists earn less than $7,300 per annum. The resolution of VCA�s funding crisis created by the Nelson reforms is still being negotiated between the (Department of Education, Science, and Training) DEST, the University of Melbourne and the VCA." [Full Report and Photos...]

Fighting For Public Education

Melbourne Indymedia — 2004-04-07T02:44:10

A rally on the Student National Day of Action, which was attended by approximately 1500 people, concluded with the occupation of the seventh level of the RMIT building on the corner of Latrobe and Russell Streets in the city (the Vice Chancelor's office) by hundreds of students. The occupation was part of highly successful national day of action around Australia. The students were ejected from the offices at around 11pm last night. (Photos 1, 2, 3).

The students are speaking up to oppose higher HECS, more full-fee places, shutting out the poor, and commercialisation. "While these fee increases won't affect this generation of university students, accessible education is seen as a crucial democratic right," said one reporter.

All staff and security left the office soon after the occupation. The students' basic demands were that there be no fee increases. They also insisted that the Vice Chancellor meet personally with the occupiers, which she refused to do. They also refused to commit to not raising fees at RMIT.

Students circles, websites and email inboxes were inundated with scores of requests (1, 2) for support during the occupation, either with messages of solidarity, or having more people join them.

Protests were also held in Brisbane and Sydney, where police used pepper spray on students. The nation-wide electronic sit-in held before the protests had mixed success.

[Discuss | Sydney Indymedia | Brisbane Indymedia]