STUDENT ANTI-WAR WALK OUT

Wednesday 26 March  2003

Firstly, I want to say congratulations to all of you on the role that students have played in the anti-war movement thus far.  Over the last few months we have seen a mobilisation of Australians unparalleled in Australian history opposing this unjust and unjustifiable war being waged by, among others, Prime Minister Howard. 

Students have played a fundamental role in this anti-war movement, and have formed instrumental coalitions with unions and social and peace activists to build this movement. 

Today’s student walk-out is testament, not only to the fundamental role that students are playing in this movement, but to the networks that have been formed through it.  This national action by the National Union of Students and the National Tertiary Education Union is an example of solidarity essential to the anti-war movement.

Contrary to what some commentators have suggested since the tragic events of last Thursday, when the so-called ‘Coalition of the Willing’ began its terror campaign on the people of Iraq, this movement is anything but futile. 

It is precisely this kind of rhetoric that makes the movement, and its vibrant and visible presence, all the more important.  We are NOT willing participants in this war, yet the Howard Government has shamed Australians through their uncompromising and blind support for US imperialism. 

This movement is what tells Howard that this war will not be waged in our name.  And a terror campaign it is – yesterday saw the first images broadcast on Western news media of the remains of Iraqi houses in exclusively residential areas, and over the last few days images of Iraqi hospitals and civilian casualties. 

UNICEF stated yesterday that 100,000 Iraqi children under the age of five were at risk of death and disease through the destruction of water and electricity supplies to Basra and Baghdad. 

For those who need a reminder of the brutal reality of the effects of war on Iraq, I urge you to view an exhibition in the ACT Assembly.  Photojournalist Takashi Morizumi has commented, through pictures, on the effect of Gulf War I on children.  It will break your heart and harden your resolve to fight this war.

Howard, rather than recognising the swell of popular opposition to this war and to Australian involvement in it, is attempting to portray us as unpatriotic, or as unsupportive of the Australian men and women who are currently serving in the Middle East. 

I argue quite to the contrary – we are arguing for the safe and immediate return of Australian troops.  It is Howard who has placed them in immediate danger, in a war in which we should be playing no part.

These arguments have been, and are continuing to be, made by the anti-war movement.  As today and the protests across the country over the last week demonstrate, Howard does not have the mandate of the Australian people to engage in this immoral war. 

This movement, and the continued strength of opposition it provides, demonstrates that it is Howard who is not supported by the Australian people.

Yet this war, and the broader agenda of the Howard Government, has a more indirect effect on Australian students and workers, an effect which is epitomised by the National Union of Students ‘Books not Bombs’ campaign.  It is students and workers who are bearing the financial burden of Howard’s war. 

Since 1996 the Howard Government has ripped more than $5 billion out of higher education.  Student contributions to HECS have jumped 85% in the same period. The seemingly endless process of Brendan Nelson’s Review into Higher Education, on the basis of this record, can only promise further attacks in the form of partial deregulation of fees, voluntary student unionism and the corporate creep into universities.

Academic standards are put at risk by these cutbacks.  Tony Abbott’s explicitly anti-union agenda, including:

mean that university staff are finding it harder and harder to do their jobs. 

As of an hour ago, the Democrats supported the Coalition to pass the Coalition’s Workplace Relations (Prohibition of Compulsory Union Fees) Bill.  Shame on the Democrats.

So while Australian students and workers are struggling with some of the highest study and living costs in the world, Howard and his government are charging into unjustifiable battle for American imperialism. 

This war, the monetary costs of which will be kept from the Australian people for another 6 weeks, is being paid for at the expense of many things, including Australian students, workers and the higher education system in this country.  In addition, the Howard Government is failing to listen to the people on any of the issues I have discussed.

We need to make them listen.  We need to build and form these important coalitions, between students, activists and unions, to fight.  Fight Nelson’s slashes to higher education.  Fight Abbott’s attacks on the rights of workers to organise collectively.  And fight Howard’s shameful involvement of Australian troops in this immoral, illegal and unjust war.  This war is in not our name.  Bring the troops home!