Crippling student organisations will hurt students and universities
APRIL 27 2005
The National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) has endorsed the National Day of Action, taking place around the country tomorrow, in opposition to the Government’s so called voluntary student unionism legislation. The NTEU is encouraging members not to penalise students who attend the actions and will be speaking at events in some capital cities and regional centres.
“Student organisations make a crucial contribution to a dynamic, democratic and creative educational environment in our universities, provide a range of essential support services and facilities and give students a representative voice and participatory role in the governance of their institutions,” said Dr Carolyn Allport, NTEU President.
The NTEU is strongly opposed to the Federal Government’s anti student organisation legislation, which attempts to endanger this system by prohibiting universities from collecting student organisation fees.
The Education Minister’s justification for the Bill in terms of the principles of ‘fairness’ and ‘freedom of association’ is a complete misrepresentation of what is at stake if this legislation is implemented.”
“This legislation will cripple student organisations and the big losers will be students and universities. Students will lose vital services that support them while at university. Universities face limited choices if they cannot charge a fee for these services,” said Dr Allport. “They will either have to fund them from their own scarce resources, farm them out to private providers who will provide them on a full cost commercial basis, or not provide them at all.”
“This legislation will also damage the academic and broader cultural product offered by our universities and severely undermine their attractiveness to the multi-billion dollar international student market, where access to services provided by institutions is a major selling point for Australian universities,” Dr Allport said.
“The NTEU is encouraging the university community to get together in large numbers on the National Day of Action to send a message to the Government that its anti-student organisation legislation must not be passed.”
For information and comment:
Emma Cull, NTEU Policy and Research Officer: 03 9254 1910 or 0417 660 112