By Jorge Jorquera
On September 7, some 100 students gathered at Wollongong DEET offices and marched to the court house. The same day more than 500 students rallied at the Australian National University. Students were protesting against proposals to introduce up-front fees for legal training required to practise law.
The following day, 300 students marched against these proposals in Sydney, including students from Wollongong University. Speakers highlighted the impact fees would have on access to law courses, further disadvantaging women, Kooris and people from working class and non-English speaking backgrounds.
The march stopped in the Pitt Street Mall, where students took the opportunity to explain the issue to the community. The march responded to one bystander, in whose opinion law students where all wealthy and should pay for their courses, by chanting, "Up-front fees for law cuts out the poor" and "Education for all, not just the rich".
The march also heard Karen Fletcher, a law student and member of the Democratic Socialist Party, speak. She explained the strategy of the Labor government to destroy public higher education, which students have been fighting against since the introduction of the $250 administration charge in 1987. She said the campaign needed to build community support and link up with all those taking the brunt of Labor's austerity policies.
The march proceeded to the NSW Law Courts, where students occupied the offices, making their demands loudly heard.
The week of actions ended with a six-hour protest at ANU. On Friday, 300 hundred students rallied outside the chancellery at 9am, waiting for a University Council decision on the legal workshop fee. The decision was finally made in mid-afternoon. Much to students' anger, the decision was worse then expected: from 1995 a $5000 up-front fee (plus about $1000 in material costs) will apply. No provision has been made for loans, and only 15 half-paid scholarships will be provided.
Anna Hitchcock, second year law student and activist in the ANU Campaign Against Fees, said: "We are outraged by this decision. I personally will not be able to continue with my studies; neither will many students who do not come from wealthy backgrounds. My studies are useless without this qualification which I cannot afford.
"The university has not listened to student concerns, and there has been inadequate consultation. This decision blows a hole through the myth of equal access to education."
The decision by the government to promote such fees will not be accepted by students. Already at ANU plans are afoot for a campaign to boycott the legal workshop fee. Students are now organising a National Day of Action against up-front fees for Thursday, September 15, sponsored by the National Union of Students (NUS).