University of Melbourne Council opposes plans for VSU

Media Release, Tuesday 12 April 2005

The University of Melbourne Council has firmly opposed the Federal Government's plans to prevent Australian universities collecting non-academic fees from their students.

These fees are used to provide amenities, services and facilities for students generally.

The Higher Education Support (Abolition of Compulsory Up-front Student Union Fees) Bill 2005 – the voluntary student unionism (VSU) legislation – is expected to pass through the Senate after 1 July 2005 and to apply from 2006.

At its April meeting, the University Council resolved to oppose the provisions of this legislation that relate to the levying of student charges. It has asked the Vice-Chancellor, Professor Glyn Davis, to take whatever practicable steps necessary to gain some moderation of the proposed legislation.

"Students come to the University of Melbourne not just for the courses but for the 'Melbourne Experience'," Professor Davis said. “They want to be part of a campus where interesting things happen, where they have access to a life that extends beyond the classroom and encourages active student participation in University life."

Professor Davis says the legislation has serious financial implications for the University if it is to preserve the essential functions of the 'Melbourne Experience'.

From 2006, the VSU legislation will prevent the University collecting the Amenities and Services Fee, which this year provided $12.68 million to support a wide range of services and facilities.

This fee allows the Melbourne University Student Union Limited to provide services and facilities for the University's more than 30,000 undergraduate students, the University of Melbourne Postgraduate Association to tailor services for 9000 postgraduates, and Melbourne University Sport (MUSport) to provide superb facilities for around 10,000 club and MUSport members and 36,000 casual visitors in 2004.

The University Council backed moves to minimise – without too great consequences for other University programs – the adverse effects on essential non-academic student services provided by the University, its auxiliary operations, controlled entities and affiliated student organisations.

Melbourne has supported a student union for more than 120 years. The Melbourne University Union – modelled on the famous Oxford and Cambridge Unions – was established to "unite and promote the fellowship of the different schools of the University". The Union House has been on the same site since 1911 when a renovation was made possible with "funds raised from a compulsory club-house fee".

Professor Davis points out that universities have been traditional training grounds in the political process. "Many of our politicians served as student politicians. A prime minister, Sir Robert Menzies, and a foreign minister, Dr Gareth Evans, led the student council at Melbourne in different eras.

“This university has also produced generations of business and community leaders, and journalists and editors who started with the student newspaper Farrago, who have gone on to make major national contributions."