VSU
The Student Protest March opposing the proposed Voluntary Student Union (VSU) Scheme was declared a brilliant success in terms of the number of, not only students, but also members of the community, political figures, and members of workers unions (who are also under threat by Howard's Government policies on Work and Trade Unions). Numbers totalled over the five thousand mark at the march in Sydney, which included students form the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), Sydney University, University of New South Wales, Newcastle University, and University of Western Sydney. The Melbourne rally also numbered over five thousand students from the surrounding Victorian Universities, and other protests where held across the nation from the complete board of Universities from West to East Coast.
Pre-Marching sermons were given at various universities around sydney; UNSW had invited guest speaker Peter Garret, Labour Member of Parliament for the seat of Kingsford-Smith, who spoke about the integral role a compulsory union body plays within student life not only within a community aspect but also about its important role as a political voice and national representation.
The march began within the CBD of Sydney, George st; while pausing at Railway Square a number of guest speakers presented some of the difficulties that faced students ahead, the absurdity of implementing VSU, and an outright rage against the Howard Government's policies. The crowd remained passive throughout proceedings; absorbing the information disseminated throughout the day and allowing their mere presence speak the volumes that their message deserved, namely that no-one wants VSU implemented. Fervently the particpants continued to Sydney Universitiy where proceedings were hosted by Adam Spencer with guest speakers Karen Struthers (Acting Labour Leader and MP), writers of CNNNN, and Will Anderson. While all the speakers spoke largely on the topic at hand the discourse was interesting and entertaining while remaining informative - The Whitlams (Tim Freedman) kept the afternoon jiving as the day drew to an end.
The only question remains is the one that rests at parliament. Whether John Howard will ever hear the protests of the people that he is required to represent. The Australian public have physically brought themselves into the streets as a public spectacle four (4) times prior within Howard's terms of government; March for Reconcialiation, March against the war in Iraq, Protest against the deregulation of University Fees and the Protests against the Woomera detention centres. The Howard government has turned deaf ears to the four (4) previous public outcries, will he ignore the marches of the students opposing VSU? Will the government ignore the protests of the Union Workers who oppose similar dissolution of their respective Unions?
Thus it begs the question, whether in this representational parliamentary democracy if the people still remain the ultimate check and balance for a government that may abuse its power.