Bill seeks to destroys students’ Associations

The Albany Students’ Association Inc. (ASA) is expressing its disappointment at the threat to student-controlled services by the ACT Party ahead of the First Reading of the Education (Freedom of Association) Amendment Bill this Wednesday.

“Although the Bill states that it “does not seek to damage or limit students’ associations,” the implications are that it will be severely detrimental to students’ associations across New Zealand,” said President of the ASA, Rawa Karetai. “Without an independent forum, students will no longer be able to express their views and the level of accountability that Universities currently have to students will be lost.”

The Albany Students’ Association, a not-for-profit incorporated society that currently serves over 7,000 Massey University Albany campus students, relies heavily on student membership levies and, without them, would be economically crippled. “Contrary to what the ACT Party is suggesting, students are able to opt out of membership if they do not want to be a part of their students’ association, but most of them appreciate and support the fact that we provide student-focused services such as Orientation; student publications, independent advocacy advisors, and welfare services. These are services provided by students for students that Universities would struggle to replace, and may have no interest in, so would simply be lost to future students severely reducing the overall quality of their student experience,” said Karetai.

“If the Bill and what the ACT Party is advocating (Voluntary Student Membership) does pass its initial reading, the long-term cost of providing these services for students by Universities is likely to be far more than what students are paying in membership levies. By appearing to liberate students from paying additional fees, the Bill is effectively another disguised form of ACT’s User Pays philosophy that will oppress students by adding a whole lot more to their already considerable student debts.”

The Education (Freedom of Association) Amendment Bill is expected to be read Wednesday afternoon.

ENDS

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