Last week was Orientation Week at South Australian Universities. Or at least what's left of it. The Federal Government has done what it set out to do destroy the holistic experience that once was campus life.
In a blatant ideological move, the Government has axed funding for student organisations and changed the quality and dynamics of student life.
The Advertiser outlined the impact of the implementation of so-called voluntary student unionism (VSU) on our campuses last week: the end of Flinders University's student newspaper, limited editions at others; catering outlets and bars closed; job losses; and a truncated O Week. Sports facilities at all three institutions are on hold awaiting $7 million in transition funding.
I believe in student control of student affairs. I have always understood (as have the courts) that the payment of a university fee is analogous to paying council rates and not, as some VSU proponents would have it, joining a trade union.
These student organisations have provided services and representation, media and sporting facilities that have stood the test of time and are of particular benefit to those students who need subsidised catering, access to welfare officers as well as services like child care. It's not just beer and skittles. Campus life has been a preparation for real life and for broadening horizons, not just academic, but social, political, cultural and sporting.
Without doubt the main objective of the Government, the student voice effectively is now suppressed. No pesky student radicals campaigning in an election year. No submissions to parliamentary committees on legislation that may affect students. Even the Senate debate on the legislation implementing VSU was an illustration of suppressing dissenting voices.
The debate that sealed the fate of universities was on "Freaky Friday", December 9, 2005.
The Senate was sitting a day late. Unusually, Coalition members were filibustering on non-controversial Bills, such as one authorising the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development to operate in Mongolia.
Meanwhile, behind closed doors, Family First's sole federal representative, Senator Steve Fielding, negotiated a last-minute, private deal with the Prime Minister on VSU.
Negotiations with National senator Barnaby Joyce had broken down, as he rejected a miserly offer of a $100 million transition fund (to compensate universities for the loss of income as a result of VSU) knowing that the costs were more like $600 million. No deal. Yet, Senator Fielding was prepared to go lower and, at $80 million (over three years), he and the Prime Minister sealed the deal.
After my contribution to the pressing issue of the Mongolian economy, I ran to my office to change son Conrad's nappy, only to be told: "Get to the chamber. Family First has done a quickie deal on VSU."
Speeches and amendments were gagged and guillotined so the Bill could be rammed through. Even the Vice-Chancellors Committee complained of a lack of access to key players (let alone the National Tertiary Education Union, the Council of Australian Post Graduate Associations or the National Union of Students).
As I stood in the Senate, in an attempt to give a third reading speech (all amendments, questions and third readings were given a total of 30 minutes) realising the numbers were against us and, once again, democracy in the Senate undermined, I looked down and saw baby poo on my skirt and thought, literally, this is one crappy day in the Senate.
This week, we learn not one cent of the transition fund has been distributed to desperate campuses around the country. Deal or no deal? Dirty deal.
|
