BY NICK FREDMAN
LISMORE — Chanting, "Education for people, not for profit", and "Whose streets? Our streets!", 300 university and high school students and university workers brushed aside police objections to spill onto the streets on September 26, protesting against recommendations in the recent review of higher education conducted by federal education minister Brendan Nelson.
The review calls for the most sweeping changes to higher education since the ALP government began deregulating the sector in 1986. Rally speakers from the Southern Cross University Student Representative Council (SRC), argued that review recommendations would lead to further cuts to public university funding; tripling the costs to undergraduate students; full fee loans; redirecting research and teaching funding from smaller institutions to larger ones; and further attacks on staff union rights
The march proceeded to the office of local federal MP Ian Causley, where a list of demands opposing these changes was presented.
Recognising the importance of linking the struggles of staff and students, the local branch of the National Tertiary Education Industry Union issued a joint letter with the SRC to campus staff urging them to attend the rally. Branch president Paul Gannon told Green Left Weekly that "it is time to say no, loudly, to more outside imposed and politically motivated change."
After building a large and active Education Action Group and holding a number of discussions and events leading up to the rally, student activists on SCU are also set to continue the struggle. Speaking to GLW, SRC chairperson Nikki Sullings warned that "the government is likely to turn the review recommendations into legislation while students are away on summer break. When we come back to our campuses next year, we will all need to take more militant action until they turn back."
From Green Left Weekly, October 2, 2002.
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