The national student union is slamming what it sees as the "disdain" the Government has for students in supporting the passage of a bill which is predicted to have a heavy impact on queer university groups. ACT MP Heather Roy's Education (Freedom of Association) Amendment Bill passed with the support of National and United Future, after days of student protests. Uni-Q groups across the country have expressed concern making union membership voluntary could significantly undermine their ability to support queer students, and ultimately could spell their demise due to a lack of funding. "Many students and campuses will see their associations collapse under this new system. Others will see associations dependent and beholden to tertiary institutions," says NZUSA co-President Max Hardy. "[The] vote symbolises the real disdain this Government has for students," adds his co-President David Do. "In reality, National has shown none of its supposed pragmatism. Instead, National has chosen to enable the extreme ideology of a discredited fringe political party. By ignoring the overwhelming opposition, arguments, and evidence, National has shown its real colours." Labour is promising to repeal the bill when it's next in power. You can discuss this story on the GayNZ.com forum here
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Thursday, 29th September 2011 - 9:58am