By James Basle and Alison Dellit
Canberra — Liberal and independent members of the House of Assembly on November 25 amended the ACT budget to block the cutting of 80 teacher positions. This victory was a response to the public campaign run by teachers and students, which included strikes, rallies, marches, demonstrations and walkouts.
The victory, however, is partial and temporary. Although teaching positions have been saved, the Labor government will still be able to cut library services, administrative staff and grants for school equipment.
Student demands have only partially been realised. Students still are demanding more subject choice; the right to discuss politics in schools; scrapping of the new ACT parliament house, with the $12 million saved being put into education; increase of the federal corporate tax rate to 49%.
According to Resistance spokesperson Kamini Junankar, there is a strong need for an ongoing campaign. Junankar stated: "Students have won a victory, but they still want to cut our education.
"As long as the 'Laberals' have a monopoly on the political system, they will continue to destroy our future. We need our own youthful, green, left political alternative."
Since the victory, Resistance has been attacked by the powers that be because of its central role in the organisation and success of the campaign, helping to organise meetings and rallies.
In the Canberra Times of November 17, Bill Woods, the minister for education and training, was quoted as saying that members of a "far left political group" had been "agitating" among secondary students. In the following days, students involved in the campaign in high schools were harassed, and there have been rumours of suspensions.
Some parents have reported being told by the Education Department that the police were investigating the group, and asked not to let their children associate with, or speak to, Resistance members.
Resistance members were recently prevented from handing out leaflets at Campbell High School. The principal of the school declared that he had been told they were coming, and instructed to ask them to leave, presumably by the Education Department. When he was questioned as to the legality of handing out the pamphlets on the footpath, which is not school property, he replied that he would consider that a threat to the functioning of the school, and threatened to call the police.
Anyone interested in getting involved in the Secondary Students Against Cuts campaign or in joining Resistance should phone (06) 247 2424.