STUDENTS OCCUPY DEST VICTORIA: "THIS IS A TASTE OF THINGS TO COME!"

NUS media release 2/12/03

Students have occupied the foyer of the Victorian office of the Department of Education, Science and Training to give the federal government a taste of things to come if the Nelson legislation gets through the Senate.

Sarah McDowell, NUS National Welfare and Smalland/or regional campuses Officer said: "Students are horrified by the news that this legislation had been supported at second reading in the Senate, and

felt that now would be an excellent time to make it clear to the government, and the Senate that this package is unsalvageable and unacceptable."

The fee increases will see generations of students burdened by unpayable debt have spurred students on to take action while many wind down after exams.

Liz Thompson, NUS National Education Officer said: "The government, the Vice-Chancellors and the Senate are on notice as of today that voting this package up will do nothing to dampen student opposition to it. If the Senate doesn't kill this package at a legislative

level, we will kill it off at a campus level. We will make sure that it cannot be implemented."

Ms Thompson continued: "The Senate needs to understand just how serious this is. If this package is passed, we are talking about the complete abolition of any notion of public education. It will only be

a matter of time before the sector is completely shut off to those without huge bank balances, and shifts to reflect only the needs of the market, not those of the community. Students won't sit idly by and let that happen. Today's action is just a taste of what will happen all over the country if this legislation gets up."