Tales from the trenches

Tasmania and SA were at the pointy end of the fight against the Job-Ready Graduates Bill. Jenny Smith and Cécile Dutreix share their war stories.

Jenny Smith

Scientist & Tas Division Councillor

The cost of a law or humanities degree is now nearly double, with the passing of the Job-Ready Graduates Bill. NTEU’s campaign to ‘Fund Uni Fairly’ targeted key Senators including Tasmania’s Jacqui Lambie, who ended up being a strong opponent of the Bill.

I grew up in a very disadvantaged area in Tasmania. I was the first student from my school to go to uni. Other families saw my family’s plans for me to go to uni, and this opened their eyes to what was previously an impossible dream. However, they would never have sent their kids to uni if a huge debt awaited them at the end of their studies.

Senator Jacqui Lambie is a passionate advocate for Tasmania and for battlers, but was initially ambivalent about the Bill, so I knew she needed to hear my story. I knew what to say, but I had no time to write a coherent message, and I guessed Senator Lambie had little time to read it. I also knew that seeing and hearing a person speak with passion is powerful: 'people may not remember what you said or what you did, but they will remember how you made them feel'.

I wrote down about 4 sentences, went to the laboratory with my phone, and recorded what I wanted to say. It took me two minutes. I looked at the video; like anyone who looks at videos of themselves I cringed a little (okay, a lot!). But I thought ‘stuff it, I’ve shown how I feel and I’ve said a few facts, it will just have to do’. I sent it off to Senator Lambie, and also to NTEU President Alison Barnes to use as they saw fit.

The NTEU media team put my video on Facebook, and I’ve had so many people comment on the feelings I conveyed in that video. Hearing Senator Lambie speak strongly against the Bill, in contrast to her previous wavering, was a highlight – I felt my strong feelings about the terrible unfairness of the Bill had formed part of the basis of her strong opposition.

This Bill only just passed. Next time a uni-crushing Bill comes up, I hope others feel they can make a short video to communicate how they feel – you’ll feel shy and weird and awfully self-conscious, but seeing and hearing a person speak with passion about their personal story is how many a mind has been influenced. ◆

Above: Cécile with the Fund Uni Fairly billboard

Cécile Dutreix

Field Education Coordinator, UniSA

In September 2020, it became apparent that the Coalition were close to passing the Job-Ready Graduates Bill. Crossbenchers were the only hope to thwart this ill-informed, devious attempt to further decrease equitable and affordable access for students to higher education.

The South Australian campaign targeted Centre Alliance Federal Member for Mayo, Rebekha Sharkie, spokesperson on Education, and Centre Alliance Senator Stirling Griff, whose votes against the Bill along with ALP, Greens, Jacqui Lambie and Rex Patrick would’ve Blocked the Bill.

My family and I migrated to Australia in 1969. I was the first person in my family to attain a university degree, a degree in social work. Without higher education policies of the time I wouldn’t have had access to university education, particularly as a mature age single parent. I’m now an educator at UniSA working within social work.

As member of the UniSA Branch Committee, the Women’s Action Committee, and one of two members in the SA Division who live in Mayo, I felt compelled to reach out to my Federal representative to listen to reasoned arguments from the NTEU about how this Bill negatively impacts students.

Along with NTEU comrades around Australia we swamped social media, drove a bus and banner around Mayo, held Snap Actions online, rang the offices of Centre Alliance members and wrote letters.

Unfortunately, Centre Alliance made a deal with the Coalition in return for funding for roads in Mayo.

Caring and supporting every member of my community is important to me and a value made active in the NTEU.

When I witness injustice I cannot, with any integrity, say and do nothing. Being a union delegate is one of the ways that I can actively fight injustice, inequality, racism and the neoliberal agenda that profits the few and disadvantages the many. If you concur, I implore you to become a delegate and join us in the pursuit of a fair and just society. ◆