Fight for free education!
SP Newsletter No.250
The developing world economic downturn means that universities will be looking to cut back on costs. Cuts to courses, funding and jobs are all on the cards. Already during the ‘boom’ some campuses have lost staff and some courses have been cut.
The coming recession comes on the back of over ten years of reductions in government grants to universities. We have seen students pay for this via increased HECS fees and by international students being used as cash cows. This has been the case both under Coalition and Labor governments. What students really need is a return to free tertiary education, such as was provided in the mid 1970s and up until the late 1980s.
But neither the Labor government, with its so-called “Education Revolution” nor the Liberals can, or are willing to provide this. Even though Kevin Rudd has admitted that he and many current MPs themselves received the benefit of a free university education he has said “we can’t go back to those days”. This claim however is totally untrue, even in the midst of a recession. There are vast amounts of wealth available in society, and what better way to invest it than in essential services for ordinary people, such as education.
We have a situation in Australia where universities are increasingly being run like businesses, rather than social institutions. Education is being provided on a ‘for-profit’ basis, rather than for the sole purpose of educating people so they can play a productive role in society. Education should be a right and not a commodity to make profit from.
The only way to go back to free education in Australia would be on the basis of socialist policies. To win this we would need a mass, democratic campaign of students, education workers and trade unions. The demand for free education goes hand in hand with the demand for the total repeal of the Voluntary Student Unionism (VSU) legislation that has severely wounded the ability of students to organise on campus.
We also need more, not less courses, affordable student accommodation and better facilities on campus. Students and staff must organise to fight back against any cuts proposed by the Labor Government or university administrations.
The Socialist Party calls for not one dollar, not one job and not one course to be cut. We need free tertiary education in all fields to be available to everyone. Why should education only be available on the basis of being rich, or going into debt? Why should education be for profit? The answers are it shouldn’t!
The Socialist Party stands for a society where education is a right, not a commodity, and where students and staff alike are properly resourced including decent wages and conditions. We stand for a society run on the basis of the needs of the many, not the profits of a few. If you agree you should join the fight by joining the Socialist Party.
The Socialist Party in Melbourne has just set up a new student club on the Bundoora campus of LaTrobe University. We stand against cuts, fees and VSU. If you would like to get involved or help out during O Week contact our student organiser, Kirk Leonard, on 0421653901.
Socialism 2009
Capitalism in crisis: A day school on understanding the world economy
Saturday March 21st, 11am till 5pm at Trades Hall in Melbourne.
Three sessions including: An introduction to Marxist economics, How the global downturn will effect Australia and Fighting back against capitalism. Costs are $5 unwaged, $10 waged or $20 solidarity price. To book your place, or for more information phone 03 9639 9111 or click here.
http://www.socialistpartyaustralia.org/archives/1606
Upcoming SP meetings
The Melbourne Branch of SP meets every Wednesday at 7pm in Trades Hall on the corner of Lygon & Victoria Streets Carlton South. Upcoming meetings include:
25/2/09 – The Marxist theory of the state
4/3/09 – Venezuela after the referendum
11/3/09 – 20 years since the collapse of Stalinism
18/3/09 – Public transport in public hands. Public meeting featuring speakers from SP, Greens and Public Transport Users Association.
For more information or for details of meetings in other parts of Australia contact our National Office on 03 9639 9111.
News links
Kashmir: Health Workers’ Strike Action
http://socialistworld.net/eng/2009/02/1902.html
Ireland: Thousands rally against attacks on public sector workers
http://socialistworld.net/eng/2009/02/1901.html
Guadeloupe: General strike gathers force and spreads
http://socialistworld.net/eng/2009/02/1804.html
Join the Socialist Party
If you agree with what you have read in our newsletter or on our website you should consider joining SP. The Socialist Party has branches in Melbourne, Sydney, Newcastle and Perth as well as members and supporters in all other states.
We are involved in trade union work and student work. We also run community, anti-war and environmental campaigns. But most of all we want to build a party that will fight to get rid of the capitalist system, the system that is at the root of all of these problems. We fight for socialism - a system that will bring an end to wars, poverty and environmental destruction. To join SP contact our National Office on 03 9639 9111 and we will send you a membership application form.
Subscribe to ‘The Socialist’ newspaper!
Support the Socialist Party by subscribing to our monthly newspaper ‘The Socialist’. Subscription rates are only $10 per year or $20 solidarity price. You will receive 11 copies per year delivered to your door every month. You will also receive our email newsletter every week and you will know that you are supporting an organisation that is at the fore of fighting against the capitalist system. To subscribe to ‘The Socialist’ contact our National Office on 03 9639 9111 and we will send you a subscription form.
Socialist Party contact details
Melbourne: Phone Anthony on 0396399111.
Sydney: Phone Gary on 0297287727.
Newcastle: Phone Samantha on 0249681545.
Perth: Phone John on 0894020728.
Rest of Australia: Phone our National Office on 0396399111.
Rest of the world: Phone our International Office on ++ 44 20 8988 8760.
The Socialist Party is the Australian section of the Committee for a Workers’ International (CWI). The CWI is organised in over 40 countries across the world.
http://www.sp.org.au
http://www.socialistworld.net
http://www.myspace.com/socialistpartyaustralia
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=20461960776
