Media Release: Thursday, 11 June 2009
GSA welcomes UA call for international student transport concessions
Concession would make transport for internationals safer: Universities Australia
Denying concessions a “visible manifestation of inequality”, GSA President
The University of Melbourne Graduate Student Association welcomed the statement released Tuesday 09/06/09 by Universities Australia, titled ‘Universities Australia Action Plan for Student Safety'. In particular the GSA echoes the appeal from University Vice-Chancellors for state governments to immediately provide public transport concessions for international students.
The Universities Australia action plan indicates the group's intention to:
“Advocate that all state and territory authorities immediately make available travel concessions for all students to help enhance their safety and security when moving between campuses, accommodation and workplaces, and improve public transport safety for all, and encourage employer and union support for assuring safe travel conditions for student workers”. (point 4 of Universities Australia Action Plan for Student Safety', Media Release 09/09, Tues 9 June 2009)
The GSA is similarly troubled that real violations of safety on public transport that have arisen in recent days, with international students subjected to racist attacks. Public transport concessions would go some way to redressing these problems by encouraging greater use of public transport by international students and removing public displays of two-tier treatment of students.
“The denial of transport concessions is a visible and public manifestation of the inequality that has been created between domestic and international students” said GSA President Paul Coats. “The state government has taken some limited action to deal with racism in Victoria, but an evaluation of its own policies and practices must form part of its response. It would seem hypocritical of the government to call for ‘harmony' whilst at the same time exploiting international student dollars on our flailing public transport system.”
“Public transport concessions should be made available to all students, regardless of their enrolment – anything less can provide ballast to the prejudices held against international and postgraduate students, who are currently denied these concession”, Mr Coats added.
The GSA is part of the Concession Card Coalition, a variety of sector-groups in Victoria that organised a successful protest on this issue on 29 April this year. The coalition will be meeting in the next few days to plan future public campaign activities.
For more information, contact Paul Coats, GSA President, on 0416 509 140