To the Honourable Speaker and Members of the House of Representatives assembled.

This petition of members of the university community points out the detrimental effects that the Higher Education Amendment Act 1999 will have on students in Australia.

This petition draws the attention of the House of Representatives to the effects the passage of this legislation will have, including:

. to undermine the ability of student organisations to provide support and services to students, as determined by students (including childcare, subsidised food and financial assistance);

. to undermine the ability of student organisations to provide support and services to disadvantaged students (including mature aged and part time students, women, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students, international students and students from regional Australia);

. to limit funding to cultural and art events, sport and student media;

. to undermine the ability of students to represent themselves to the university and government.

National VSU follows three years of attacks by the Howard Government on the Higher Education Sector, including 6 per cent cuts to public funding to universities, an increase in HECS payments and damaging changes to ABSTUDY and other income support measures. It is a politically motivated attack on student organisations intended to limit and silence a vocal critic of the Government. Students have the right to run and operate their own affairs.

Your petitioners therefore ask that the House of Representatives categorically reject the Higher Education Amendment Act 1999.