FED: Uni students reject plan to end compulsory union fees

AAP General News (Australia)
12-22-1998
FED: Uni students reject plan to end compulsory union fees

By Rosalind Mathieson

CANBERRA, Dec 22 AAP - University students reacted with anger today at federal government
plans to ban compulsory union fees, saying it would silence the dissent and protest that was a
tradition of campus life.

In changes affecting nearly one million students, Education Minister David Kemp has
announced plans to introduce legislation next year to ban compulsory membership of student-run
organisations, and annual fees of up $350.

"All citizens, including students, should be free to choose whether or not they belong to
an association," Dr Kemp said.

Instead, universities would be able to levy fees directly related to education services
from students.

Victoria and Western Australia already have voluntary student unionism through state
legislation.

But Dr Kemp will face opposition to the changes when his legislation comes before the
Senate.

Students said the changes would silence dissent on campus and questioned the timing of the
announcement, made just before Christmas and during the lengthy summer university hiatus.

The National Union of Students (NUS) said Dr Kemp wished to cripple student organisations.

NUS president Rose Tracey said voluntary student unionism would deny students essential
services and recreational activities.

"Student organisations also keep universities accountable for the expenditure of taxpayers'
money," Ms Tracey said in a statement.

Student organisations are normally elected each year from the student body, with various
factions, often aligned with major political parties, running a campaign.

The University of Western Sydney students association questioned the timing of the
announcement.

"It is obviously designed to minimise the inevitable student backlash," president Richard
Martino said.

The Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations (CAPA) said the government was cowardly
to announce the changes during the summer break.

National Tertiary Education Union national assistant secretary Ted Murphy said the changes
would hurt staff as well as students.

But the Liberal Students Federation welcomed the move, saying it would benefit students
from lower socio-economic backgrounds.

"This move will be welcomed by students across the nation ... because the government is
recognising that their rights as individual students should not be sacrificed on the altar of
compulsory unionism," federation president Nick Tolley said.

AAP rmm/ss

KEYWORD: STUDENTS SECOND DAYLEAD

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