Hey everyone
Wael and Johannes have set up an online petition for the Concession card campaign, which is very awesome. It would be great for everone to sign it and send it onto all your friends, and get them to send it onto all their friends and so on and so on. The address for the online petition is: http://www.petitiononline.com/ccforvic/petition.html. They have also set up a facebook group, the address for that is: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=23850395589I.
Great work guys.
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Sunday, May 4, 2008
Foreign students take on state over discrimination...2007
See: http://www.theage.com.au/news/national/foreign-students-take-on-state-over-discrimination/2007/09/21/1189881777593.html
Foreign students take on state over discrimination
Written by NLC VIC Publication Officer
Saturday, 22 September 2007
Adam Morton
THE State Government has been criticised by the chief of its equal opportunity commission after introducing legislation to quash a racial discrimination case.
Overseas students have taken the state to the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission, arguing laws denying them public transport concessions are discriminatory.
Represented by the Ethnic Communities' Council of Victoria, they claim 100,000 international students bring about $3 billion a year to the economy but are treated as second-class citizens, banned from concession rates on trams, trains and buses.
When conciliation failed, the council was preparing to take the case to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
Transport Minister Lynne Kosky this week moved to ensure that if a case was launched, it would be the first and last time. Telling Parliament the Government's policy was not discriminatory, she introduced an amendment to the Equal Opportunity Act banning discrimination complaints by overseas students over public transport.
Equal Opportunity Commission chief executive Helen Szoke, who only learnt of the proposed change yesterday, said she was disappointed the commission had not been consulted.
"If the (Government's) view is that it is not discriminatory, why then amend the act in this manner without consultation?"
The ethnic communities' council said while Ms Kosky stressed the case could continue, the proposed laws would override the result, rendering it pointless. "The new legislation … is unfair and discriminatory and potentially in breach of their new Human Rights and Responsibilities Charter," council chairman Phong Nguyen said.
Elva Zhang, president of the Australian Federation of International Students, said her members felt "betrayed and let down", arguing Australian students have access to concession cards when they study overseas.
Federal Education Minister Julie Bishop early this year wrote to Victoria and NSW, the only other state to deny foreign students a concession, accusing them of putting the overseas student market at risk.
Jessica Harris, spokeswoman for Ms Kosky, said the Government acknowledged the important contribution of overseas students but public transport was already heavily subsidised.
"When full-fee-paying students gain a visa to study in Australia, they must demonstrate that they are already fully self-sufficient and able to meet all their living expenses, including public transport expenses, while they are here," she said.
The reinforcement of the concession ban comes as universities and the city council plan a marketing campaign to sell Melbourne as "the Boston of the southern hemisphere" — a learning hub that welcomes international students.
Overseas students pay nearly $50 a month more than the concession rate. Charging full fees amounts to an estimated $30 million a year.
Mr Nguyen called on the Liberal Party not to support the legislation in the upper house.
Liberal education spokesman Martin Dixon said overseas students brought "incredible economic and cultural benefits", but would not commit. "If we're going to lose our competitive edge in Victoria by charging (full) public transport rates, than we need to look at it," he said.
Foreign students take on state over discrimination
Written by NLC VIC Publication Officer
Saturday, 22 September 2007
Adam Morton
THE State Government has been criticised by the chief of its equal opportunity commission after introducing legislation to quash a racial discrimination case.
Overseas students have taken the state to the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission, arguing laws denying them public transport concessions are discriminatory.
Represented by the Ethnic Communities' Council of Victoria, they claim 100,000 international students bring about $3 billion a year to the economy but are treated as second-class citizens, banned from concession rates on trams, trains and buses.
When conciliation failed, the council was preparing to take the case to the Victorian Civil and Administrative Tribunal.
Transport Minister Lynne Kosky this week moved to ensure that if a case was launched, it would be the first and last time. Telling Parliament the Government's policy was not discriminatory, she introduced an amendment to the Equal Opportunity Act banning discrimination complaints by overseas students over public transport.
Equal Opportunity Commission chief executive Helen Szoke, who only learnt of the proposed change yesterday, said she was disappointed the commission had not been consulted.
"If the (Government's) view is that it is not discriminatory, why then amend the act in this manner without consultation?"
The ethnic communities' council said while Ms Kosky stressed the case could continue, the proposed laws would override the result, rendering it pointless. "The new legislation … is unfair and discriminatory and potentially in breach of their new Human Rights and Responsibilities Charter," council chairman Phong Nguyen said.
Elva Zhang, president of the Australian Federation of International Students, said her members felt "betrayed and let down", arguing Australian students have access to concession cards when they study overseas.
Federal Education Minister Julie Bishop early this year wrote to Victoria and NSW, the only other state to deny foreign students a concession, accusing them of putting the overseas student market at risk.
Jessica Harris, spokeswoman for Ms Kosky, said the Government acknowledged the important contribution of overseas students but public transport was already heavily subsidised.
"When full-fee-paying students gain a visa to study in Australia, they must demonstrate that they are already fully self-sufficient and able to meet all their living expenses, including public transport expenses, while they are here," she said.
The reinforcement of the concession ban comes as universities and the city council plan a marketing campaign to sell Melbourne as "the Boston of the southern hemisphere" — a learning hub that welcomes international students.
Overseas students pay nearly $50 a month more than the concession rate. Charging full fees amounts to an estimated $30 million a year.
Mr Nguyen called on the Liberal Party not to support the legislation in the upper house.
Liberal education spokesman Martin Dixon said overseas students brought "incredible economic and cultural benefits", but would not commit. "If we're going to lose our competitive edge in Victoria by charging (full) public transport rates, than we need to look at it," he said.
Parliament bill passed: denying concession cards to international students
See: http://tex.parliament.vic.gov.au/bin/texhtmlt?form=VicHansard.dumpall&db=hansard91&dodraft=0&house=ASSEMBLY&speech=60458&activity=Second+Reading&title=TRANSPORT+LEGISLATION+AMENDMENT+BILL&date1=20&date2=September&date3=2007&query=true%0A%09and+(+activity+contains+'Second+Reading'+)%0A%09and+(+hdate.hdate_3+=+2007+)%0A%09and+(+hdate.hdate_2+contains+'September'+)%0A%09and+(+hdate.hdate_1+=+20+)%0A%09and+(+house+contains+'ASSEMBLY'+)%0A
Private full-fee-paying international students -- concession travel on public transport
Victoria has a generous public transport concessions program available across the State. In 2006, the government spent over $170 million on concessions for a wide range of public transport users. The program is kept under constant review.
Last year, for example, we announced further concessions for seniors in our community as part of the MOTC statement.
It is, however, critical that resources continue to be carefully targeted especially considering the subsidies which already apply for all users of public transport travel.
Victoria very much welcomes the private full-fee-paying overseas students who choose to study here and we acknowledge their important contribution to the state. However, for sound policy reasons, this government has not considered providing concessions assistance to this particular group of students a priority, and therefore the students do not receive the entitlement. The previous government held the same view.
Providing transport concessions to private full-fee-paying overseas students would be very costly. The money used to pay for extending the scheme to these students would have to come from another area of budget and could impact on other service improvements if the entitlement was granted. In addition, it would be inconsistent with the terms of the students' entry into Australia. When private full-fee-paying overseas students gain a visa to study in Australia, they must demonstrate that they are already fully self-sufficient and able to meet all their living expenses, including public transport expenses, while they are here. The students are required to pay substantial fees to study for their degree and, at the same time, they are also not eligible for benefits such as Medicare, Newstart allowance or Austudy. Unlike Australian citizens, permanent residents and students with refugee status whose intention is to live and work In Australia on an ongoing basis, there is no expectation that private full-fee-paying students will continue to live in Victoria beyond completing their education.
In these circumstances, Victorian taxpayers should not be expected to further subsidise private full-fee-paying overseas students' travel on public transport. New South Wales, like Victoria, does not provide concessions to this group of students and in 2006 it passed special legislation to exclude the entitlement following a finding by the NSW Administrative Decisions Tribunal under antidiscrimination law in that state.
While the government does not believe the current policy is discriminatory, the purpose of the amendments is to continue the current policy of not providing public transport concessions to private full-fee-paying overseas students. As part of that, the amendments confirm that the policy does not constitute, and has never constituted, discrimination on the basis of race for the purposes of the Equal Opportunity Act 1995. However, the bill expressly preserves the right of the complainant to pursue the argument in a current matter which is before the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission.
But the government is otherwise acting through the bill to prevent further complaints and cases being brought or parties or persons being added to the current matter.
Private full-fee-paying international students -- concession travel on public transport
Victoria has a generous public transport concessions program available across the State. In 2006, the government spent over $170 million on concessions for a wide range of public transport users. The program is kept under constant review.
Last year, for example, we announced further concessions for seniors in our community as part of the MOTC statement.
It is, however, critical that resources continue to be carefully targeted especially considering the subsidies which already apply for all users of public transport travel.
Victoria very much welcomes the private full-fee-paying overseas students who choose to study here and we acknowledge their important contribution to the state. However, for sound policy reasons, this government has not considered providing concessions assistance to this particular group of students a priority, and therefore the students do not receive the entitlement. The previous government held the same view.
Providing transport concessions to private full-fee-paying overseas students would be very costly. The money used to pay for extending the scheme to these students would have to come from another area of budget and could impact on other service improvements if the entitlement was granted. In addition, it would be inconsistent with the terms of the students' entry into Australia. When private full-fee-paying overseas students gain a visa to study in Australia, they must demonstrate that they are already fully self-sufficient and able to meet all their living expenses, including public transport expenses, while they are here. The students are required to pay substantial fees to study for their degree and, at the same time, they are also not eligible for benefits such as Medicare, Newstart allowance or Austudy. Unlike Australian citizens, permanent residents and students with refugee status whose intention is to live and work In Australia on an ongoing basis, there is no expectation that private full-fee-paying students will continue to live in Victoria beyond completing their education.
In these circumstances, Victorian taxpayers should not be expected to further subsidise private full-fee-paying overseas students' travel on public transport. New South Wales, like Victoria, does not provide concessions to this group of students and in 2006 it passed special legislation to exclude the entitlement following a finding by the NSW Administrative Decisions Tribunal under antidiscrimination law in that state.
While the government does not believe the current policy is discriminatory, the purpose of the amendments is to continue the current policy of not providing public transport concessions to private full-fee-paying overseas students. As part of that, the amendments confirm that the policy does not constitute, and has never constituted, discrimination on the basis of race for the purposes of the Equal Opportunity Act 1995. However, the bill expressly preserves the right of the complainant to pursue the argument in a current matter which is before the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission.
But the government is otherwise acting through the bill to prevent further complaints and cases being brought or parties or persons being added to the current matter.
Sunday, April 27, 2008
Melbourne: 'Boston of the Southern Hemisphere'
From: http://www.melbourne.vic.gov.au/info.cfm?top=228&pg=715&st=847
Melbourne - the next global knowledge capital
Thursday, 23 August 2007
Melbourne will be positioned as ‘the Boston of the southern hemisphere’ under a landmark collaboration between the city’s eight metropolitan universities and the City of Melbourne.
A new report, ‘Melbourne – Australia’s Knowledge Capital’, has found the annual turnover of Melbourne’s universities is $4 billion, and that they contribute international exports worth more than $2 billion annually – equivalent to Melbourne’s tourism industry.
The report is the first project undertaken by the Melbourne Vice Chancellors’ Forum, established to promote closer collaboration between the City of Melbourne and metropolitan universities.
The report’s release will be followed by a series of initiatives and an action plan by the Forum. Part of the plan will include a proposal to establish a jointly-funded ‘Office of Knowledge Capital’, responsible for positioning Melbourne as Australia’s knowledge capital.
Chair of the Melbourne Vice Chancellors’ Forum, Lord Mayor John So, said the long-term success of Melbourne’s universities was critical to enable the city to future-proof its economy through growth and development of innovative and profitable businesses.
“For the first time, this report brings together information and data on the important part universities play in the city, and the significance of knowledge development to the future prosperity and success of Melbourne as an internationally competitive city,” the Lord Mayor said.
“From science, IT and computer game development, to funds management, design and aerospace technologies, this city leads Australia – and universities are fundamental to that success.
“They also have a significant impact on Melbourne’s arts and cultural life through theatre, museums and libraries; research conducted at the universities results in benefits for the community and the presence of students in the city creates an exciting vibrancy in the city.
“This is a first - no other Australian capital city is working together with its universities in this way. The relationships between the City of Melbourne and metropolitan universities will continue to develop to position Melbourne internationally as Australia’s leading knowledge city and one of the top university cities in the world.”
The report also found Melbourne’s universities:
invest $1.6 billion in infrastructure annually;
contribute significantly to the creation of businesses. At the end of 2004, 91 successful start-up businesses were established between 2000 and 2004;
provide services and infrastructure for government, industry and the community, including medical centres, scientific facilities, performing arts and sport facilities;
operate physical infrastructure valued at over $9.0 billion.
The report identified the biomedical sector as one area to promote Melbourne internationally.
“Melbourne is already developing its reputation as a biomedical hub, through projects including development of IVF programs, the development of therapeutic treatment for diabetes and obesity, genetic research into diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s and looking at ways to biodegrade plastics.”
“Melbourne researchers already hold a significant number of internationally funded research grants in this field, and we will continue to build on this reputation in the future.”
Melbourne’s large international student population was also identified as contributing significantly to the city from a financial and social perspective.
In 2005, Victoria’s universities had a student population of 243,000 – 48,600 of those were international students from the eight universities included in this study. It’s estimated these students spend approximately $600 per week each on housing, food and other expenses.
“International students have made a major contribution to the revitalisation of the social and cultural life of inner Melbourne. They are attracted to Melbourne’s reputation as a safe city and return to their countries of origin as ambassadors for our city,” chair of the Business and International Relations Committee, Councillor Fiona Snedden, said.
“As Melbourne’s reputation continues to grow internationally, we must work with universities, other levels of governments and organisations to ensure that we continue to meet the needs of international students from across the globe.”
Universities included in the study were: Australian Catholic University, Deakin University, La Trobe University, Monash University, RMIT University, Swinburne University, the University of Melbourne and Victoria University
Melbourne - the next global knowledge capital
Thursday, 23 August 2007
Melbourne will be positioned as ‘the Boston of the southern hemisphere’ under a landmark collaboration between the city’s eight metropolitan universities and the City of Melbourne.
A new report, ‘Melbourne – Australia’s Knowledge Capital’, has found the annual turnover of Melbourne’s universities is $4 billion, and that they contribute international exports worth more than $2 billion annually – equivalent to Melbourne’s tourism industry.
The report is the first project undertaken by the Melbourne Vice Chancellors’ Forum, established to promote closer collaboration between the City of Melbourne and metropolitan universities.
The report’s release will be followed by a series of initiatives and an action plan by the Forum. Part of the plan will include a proposal to establish a jointly-funded ‘Office of Knowledge Capital’, responsible for positioning Melbourne as Australia’s knowledge capital.
Chair of the Melbourne Vice Chancellors’ Forum, Lord Mayor John So, said the long-term success of Melbourne’s universities was critical to enable the city to future-proof its economy through growth and development of innovative and profitable businesses.
“For the first time, this report brings together information and data on the important part universities play in the city, and the significance of knowledge development to the future prosperity and success of Melbourne as an internationally competitive city,” the Lord Mayor said.
“From science, IT and computer game development, to funds management, design and aerospace technologies, this city leads Australia – and universities are fundamental to that success.
“They also have a significant impact on Melbourne’s arts and cultural life through theatre, museums and libraries; research conducted at the universities results in benefits for the community and the presence of students in the city creates an exciting vibrancy in the city.
“This is a first - no other Australian capital city is working together with its universities in this way. The relationships between the City of Melbourne and metropolitan universities will continue to develop to position Melbourne internationally as Australia’s leading knowledge city and one of the top university cities in the world.”
The report also found Melbourne’s universities:
invest $1.6 billion in infrastructure annually;
contribute significantly to the creation of businesses. At the end of 2004, 91 successful start-up businesses were established between 2000 and 2004;
provide services and infrastructure for government, industry and the community, including medical centres, scientific facilities, performing arts and sport facilities;
operate physical infrastructure valued at over $9.0 billion.
The report identified the biomedical sector as one area to promote Melbourne internationally.
“Melbourne is already developing its reputation as a biomedical hub, through projects including development of IVF programs, the development of therapeutic treatment for diabetes and obesity, genetic research into diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s and looking at ways to biodegrade plastics.”
“Melbourne researchers already hold a significant number of internationally funded research grants in this field, and we will continue to build on this reputation in the future.”
Melbourne’s large international student population was also identified as contributing significantly to the city from a financial and social perspective.
In 2005, Victoria’s universities had a student population of 243,000 – 48,600 of those were international students from the eight universities included in this study. It’s estimated these students spend approximately $600 per week each on housing, food and other expenses.
“International students have made a major contribution to the revitalisation of the social and cultural life of inner Melbourne. They are attracted to Melbourne’s reputation as a safe city and return to their countries of origin as ambassadors for our city,” chair of the Business and International Relations Committee, Councillor Fiona Snedden, said.
“As Melbourne’s reputation continues to grow internationally, we must work with universities, other levels of governments and organisations to ensure that we continue to meet the needs of international students from across the globe.”
Universities included in the study were: Australian Catholic University, Deakin University, La Trobe University, Monash University, RMIT University, Swinburne University, the University of Melbourne and Victoria University
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Concession cards for International, Post Graduate and Part Time students.
Hey everyone,
So there has been interest from many students at RMIT to run a concession card campaign this year across RMIT and other universities. This campaign is directed at the Victorian Government to get them to stop discrimination and allow concession cards for all students, whether International, Post graduate or part time students. The next meeting for this campaign will be held on this Thursday 24th April at 12:30 in the Post Grad Lounge (building 28 level 3).
We had several good ideas and actions come out of the first meeting that was held last Thursday 17th April, including the potential to organise groups from other universities to join a campaign, launching a overseas poster campaign exposing Victoria's discriminatory policies against international students and informing overseas students not to study at universities in Victoria, getting a petition ready for the next meeting and getting students to contact their Members of Parliament (easy to find MP's: http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/mlas1.html ). We've also started up a blog site for people to share information and ideas, which will be up and running very soon and have thought up a name for our group and the campaign, it's CC4VIC (concession cards for Victoria).
Tomorrow (Wednesday 23rd April) the representatives from the Student Union are holding a BBQ in Bowen Street to promote the Concession cards campaign. But they are in desperate need of some volunteers to help run the BBQ and also inform students about the Concession Card campaign and get students to sign up for more information.
There is also some good news I have also heard that RMIT's Vice Chancellor and several other Vice Chancellors in Victoria are supporting concession cards for International Students, which is a definite positive for any campaign that we run.
So I hope that we see all of you there at the BBQ tomorrow or at the next meeting on Thursday.
Regards
Ryan
Ryan Mosby
RMIT Student Union
General Representative
So there has been interest from many students at RMIT to run a concession card campaign this year across RMIT and other universities. This campaign is directed at the Victorian Government to get them to stop discrimination and allow concession cards for all students, whether International, Post graduate or part time students. The next meeting for this campaign will be held on this Thursday 24th April at 12:30 in the Post Grad Lounge (building 28 level 3).
We had several good ideas and actions come out of the first meeting that was held last Thursday 17th April, including the potential to organise groups from other universities to join a campaign, launching a overseas poster campaign exposing Victoria's discriminatory policies against international students and informing overseas students not to study at universities in Victoria, getting a petition ready for the next meeting and getting students to contact their Members of Parliament (easy to find MP's: http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/mlas1.html ). We've also started up a blog site for people to share information and ideas, which will be up and running very soon and have thought up a name for our group and the campaign, it's CC4VIC (concession cards for Victoria).
Tomorrow (Wednesday 23rd April) the representatives from the Student Union are holding a BBQ in Bowen Street to promote the Concession cards campaign. But they are in desperate need of some volunteers to help run the BBQ and also inform students about the Concession Card campaign and get students to sign up for more information.
There is also some good news I have also heard that RMIT's Vice Chancellor and several other Vice Chancellors in Victoria are supporting concession cards for International Students, which is a definite positive for any campaign that we run.
So I hope that we see all of you there at the BBQ tomorrow or at the next meeting on Thursday.
Regards
Ryan
Ryan Mosby
RMIT Student Union
General Representative
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