By Sean Healy
On April 1, more than 20,000 students and staff took part in protests against the Howard government's education cutbacks and the privatisation of tertiary and technical education. The large turnout, and the militancy of the demonstrations, showed how deep the anger goes.
The nationwide protest also won the (low-key) support of the Australian Vice-Chancellors' Committee. Despite its commitment to undergraduate fees and implementing the cuts, the AVCC supported the rallies' demand for increased higher education funding.
From Sydney, Keara Courtney reports that 4000 students and staff from universities and TAFE colleges rallied at Victoria Park before marching along Broadway to the Department of Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs office.
In Wollongong, says Justin Randall, more than 500 staff and students from the University of Wollongong and the local TAFE marched from Wollongong station to the mall amphitheatre. James Beach, University of Wollongong education officer, rejected the West Review and its agenda for education "restructuring".
Graham Williams in Newcastle reports that, despite bad weather, 250 people gathered in Civic Park to hear speakers from Newcastle University Students Association, the Community and Public Sector Union, TAFE teachers, the ALP, National Tertiary Education and Industry Union (NTEU) and student support staff.
An ALP speaker failed to commit Labor to restoring education funding if it is elected. Many students were surprised at the decision to include the ALP on the platform considering its appalling record on education policy when in government.
In Lismore, Nick Fredman reports, 500 high school, TAFE and university students and staff rallied. The rally was entertained by local bands and a skate competition before a lively march around Lismore. The march and rally were also part of the campaign at the Southern Cross University against an up-front $18 "administration charge".
From Brisbane, Andy Gianniotis reports that more than 3000 demonstrated. A feature was the participation of many high school students who joined a Resistance-initiated school walkout. The walkout was heavily criticised by the state education minister, and many principals tried to prevent the action.
In Hobart, more than 500 secondary college, TAFE and university students and staff attended a rally at the University of Tasmania, writes Alex Bainbridge. The large number of secondary college students from around the city added a particular vibrancy.
Kathy Newnham in Adelaide reports that 800 people mobilised on the steps of Parliament House there. The healthy turnout and enthusiastic mood of the rally were a promising sign for the future of the education campaign.
From Melbourne, Marce Cameron told Â鶹´«Ã½ Weekly that around 5000 students and staff took to the streets. There were large contingents from Melbourne University and the Victorian College of the Arts.
Students marched to the Qantas head office and held a sit-in in the foyer. A member of the Qantas board of directors is involved in the establishment of Melbourne University Inc., a private wing of the university.
The action ended in confusion when activists from several ultraleft political organisations led a group of 50 students to occupy a nearby building at RMIT.
More that 1500 people attended the national day of action in Canberra, reports Amanda Lawrence. Rallies began at each of the city's tertiary institutions and converged at the Workers Club, where students joined workers from education unions.
Large contingents from the Canberra Institute of Technology and the Australian Education Union were involved for the first time. Mechanics students rigged up a wrecked car to represent the dilapidated state of education funding.
Natalie Zirngast and Sibylle Kaczorek write from Darwin that 200 people rallied outside the NT University library. Speakers criticised the severity of the attacks on higher education, the introduction of up-front fees, the proposals contained in the West Review and the continuing erosion of student income support through the common youth allowance and cuts to ABSTUDY. They emphasised the need for a strong, vocal and ongoing campaign.
Sean Martin-Iverson in Perth reports that more than 250 students and staff gathered at the University of WA. The area was blanketed with placards with slogans such as "public education = public benefit".
The meeting was addressed by the UWA vice-chancellor, Deryck Schreuder, who expressed concern at the federal government's cuts. He argued that tertiary education was tied to the "national interest" and compared the need for more higher education funding to the need for more defence funding!
The NTEU WA president, Doug Yorke, declared his union's opposition to all university fees, including the HECS.