Students reject ALP's anti-VSU "solution"
By Alex Bainbridge
MELBOURNE — Federal Minister for Employment, Education and Training Simon Crean's proposal to bypass state-based Voluntary Student Unionism (VSU) legislation with a federal law was rejected as a solution for student unions. This was the clear message that came from the anti-Voluntary Student Unionism (VSU) teach-in held here on July 2 and attended by over 75 people.
The federal legislation offers to fund student organisations for "permitted purposes" at the discretion of the relevant federal minister, if VSU is implemented. This funding would be subtracted from the allocation to the state's general revenue.
The VSU legislation passed by Kennett in Victoria is an attack on students' ability to organise in defence of their rights. Under VSU, students would be required to pay a compulsory fee but would not have any say over how this money is spent, since university administrations would control student services.
A number of problems have been identified with the federal government's proposed legislation, the most important being that student organisations would become tied to the federal government. This would make it difficult for these organisations to campaign against anti-student policies put forward by them, such as Austudy cuts and fees.
Secondly, the legislation would be useless if a federal government were elected that favoured VSU (like the Coalition). Thirdly, the legislation offers no solution for TAFE students that are also affected by VSU.
The Student Unionism Network also believes that the federal government is considering an option that will accede to the logic of VSU by asking students to join a voluntary union for a token fee, funded by the government.
The teach-in also had panels and workshops on the attacks by Liberal and Labor governments on different sectors of the community, the effects of VSU on women and minorities, activist rights and skills and perspectives to win the campaign.
The campaign against VSU is continuing. A delegation of 40 students held a sit-in at the electoral office of Haddon Storey, state minister for higher education on July 7. The next cross-campus rally will be held on July 28 in conjunction with a national day of action. Phone (03) 329 1320 for more information.