GSA Public Transport Concessions Campaign

A University of Melbourne graduate student signs the public transport concession petition

Victoria does not grant travel concessions to postgraduate students, and is one of only two states that do not grant travel concessions to international students. The University of Melbourne Graduate Student Association (GSA) is calling on the Victorian Parliament to enact legislation and/or make provision for the realisation of:

• Full public transport concessions for all postgraduate university students;

and

• Full public transport concessions for all international university students.

Sign the GSA petition (PDF petition download attached below), and then get your fellow graduate students,  friends, colleagues or family to sign it. Return signed petitions to the GSA reception, Graduate Centre.

Or sign this petition on the web http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/fairfares/

Get involved with the campaign, contact GSA President Paul Coats president@gsa.unimelb.edu.au

In 2008, the ‘Venturous Australia’ report from the House of Representatives’ Committee on Science, Industry and Innovation’s inquiry into research training and issues in Australian Universities recommended that:

“The Australian Government work with the State Governments to support postgraduate students through the reduction of certain living expenses, in particular, through the provision of concessions for public transport travel. Access to transport concessions should be made available to all full-time tertiary students, regardless of type of enrolment or the level of course in which they are enrolled.” (Recommendation 19, Vamvakinou et al. 2008)

Link: www.innovation.gov.au/innovationreview/Documents/NIS_review_Web3.pdf

GSA endorses the Committee’s recommendation and insists that all Victorian University students should have access to travel concessions. This is based on the recognition that all students should have equal rights and opportunities and that all students, particularly in the current global financial climate, face increasing financial burdens.