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President

Many of the press stories covering the National Party's election budget described it as giving "something to everyone". But most students have now woken up to the fact that the $2.50 - $3.00 increase won't even cover the deficit in the other budgetry announcements — abolition of the personal tax rebate, and increased taxation for low income earners, i.e. students. Some of us will make about 50 cents a week from the budget announcement, but others will be paying the Treasury more.

As the country heads into the biggest depression since the 30s the Government has and will continue to economise in those "non-producing" areas, such as "education" and "social welfare". If the Government in an election year deals students a bitter financial blow, what can we hope to expect in the next 3 years?

Last week, two separate groups of students approached me to ask what we were doing this term about the bursary question. Students are now starting to feel the effects of 4 years' inflation with little compensation.

It is up to us in the following months before the elections to put our case before the public and pressurise the contending parties to take note of students' needs. We have a wealth of facts and research to prove our case. But many still do not realise the conditions under which students are expected to survive.

Increasingly students are being weeded out so that only those who have private means (ie parents) can afford to go. You only have to look around you. Most students students tend to dress up to the latest fashion and wear "neat" jeans rather than ones with patches. Students who don't dress up to a certain standard tend to be looked down upon.

Fighting for a decent bursary is not a greedy, bludging thing to do. A decent bursary would mean students wouldn't have to rely on their parents for handouts; and for those who can't do that, it would mean a tertiary education.

This term we hope to increase our electoral campaign. This Thursday Mr Elliot of "I'll come back if you're not pleased with the budget" fame, will be speaking. Why not take a break from study and hear his justification of why education spending has been cut, and in particular money for students. Watch out for organising meetings in Salient.

Unfortunately, a fair deal for students from successive Governments doesn't come naturally. Let's face up to the fact that any real increase will come at the end of a long and hard campaign.

Lindy Cassidy