What are the differences between the campaigns against education cuts then and now?
We didn’t have anything comparable to the current National Tertiary Education and Industry Union campaign. The union was dominated by the Labor Party in the ’80s and didn’t put up a fight. This is a very positive aspect today. There isn’t much difference in the general student body. We had to build things up from scratch. Like in the ’80s, there isn’t much of a student movement or student left today. One advantage now is that the CPA isn’t around to block and divert any mass mobilisations that may occur. Also, the Labor Party is more discredited and less experienced in progressive movements. There does seem to be a very low political and ideological level among the student left today, a retreat on even basic left principles like free eduction. But this can be built up through struggle. Overall, I think the situation is fairly similar — a small base to start from and the challenge of building up a leadership which can mobilise and organise students to win.
