VSU: CAPA alert but not alarmed

In a meeting held earlier this week with CAPA President Benjamin McKay, the Minister for Education, Science and Training, the Hon Dr Brendan Nelson MP, confirmed that so-called Voluntary Student Unionism (VSU) is again back on the agenda.

While the Minister refused to outline or hint at the substance of his eagerly awaited Crossroads package, he suggested that VSU will be included.

Mr McKay promised the Minister a vigorous anti-VSU campaign.

"CAPA can run such a campaign easily. We all have long experience in the battle against VSU."

"VSU has just been successfully repealed in Western Australia. One might suggest the Minister is brave to bring it up again so soon," Mr McKay said.

"I would not be cynical enough to imply that VSU is merely back on the agenda as a smokescreen to divert attention away from the substance of the Minister's reform programme; a programme that we anticipate will finally address urgent Higher Education issues in this country."

"CAPA's focus will be directed at an intelligent appraisal of the Coalition's policy package in the full interests of Australia's 155,312 postgraduate students."

Mr McKay concluded, "on the issue of VSU, CAPA is alert but not alarmed."