Opals - Fair Fares, Fair Education

Our University and the broader community are often described as culturally diverse, multicultural, and international. We pride ourselves on our philanthropy, and strive to maintain equal rights among members of our community. Still, little is known that behind this mirage, countless international students’ interests have been exploited daily to uphold this hypocrisy.

The Education industry makes up a large percentage of Australia’s income, and for USYD alone, international students account for two-fifth of all students enrolled. With the preposterous increase in tuition fee, each international student now has to pay AUD 50,000 to listen to online recordings. For those of us who are keen to return to faceto-face teaching, we will have to pay an additional full-price commute fee to be able to study.

New South Wales has been one of the only two states currently not offering student travel concession to international students since 1989. Although activists have been pushing for a fair fare system, the State Government passed the discriminatory Travel Administration Amendment (Travel Concession) Bill in 2006 to legislate the ruthless disregard of international student rights. To this day, the fight for international student concession continues, and it is even more essential at this time of crisis. By saying that all international students are wealthy is a gross generalization and stigmatization. With the recent increase in tuition fee and the impact of Covid-19 on the current global economic situation, many international students face the tremendous burden of even meeting the tuition fee. An investigation done by Destination NSW in 2017 showed that an international student visitor spends on average $15,837 in a year on living expenses alone. For a student who may not live close to campus, this number could be significantly decreased if there are travel concessions offered.

The international student travel concession campaign is not only about helping international students financially; it’s also about recognizing international students as equal and valued members of society by offering the same concessions which the government accepts that domestic students need. The increase in tuition fees while NSW continues to disregard international students rights shows that we are still seen purely as a business transaction. This year, the SRC will continue to fight for international student travel concession and fair fares. For more information and ways to support us, please follow the SRC Facebook page.

Global Solidarity officer Kigen Mera denounces the lack of concession Opal cards available to international students in NSW FAIR FARES, FAIR EDUCATION!