There was a twinkle of optimism drifting through the air just a week ago, it seems. Greens MP Francisco Hernandez put forward a Private Members’ bill that would see students receiving support during winter under the pretense that, like our country’s old, students are particularly at risk during the colder months of the year.
But Fees Free is getting canned, continuing a trend of policies which seem to only be alienating and disadvantaging students. What does that mean for the Private Members’ bill? Can it get to the finish line? We asked Francisco himself how the recent announcements had him feeling about the Bill.
“It’s made me more determined to change the government. It’s made it clear to me that none of the parties give a shit about students. They’re not gonna support students when they’re trying to learn” he said.
We suggested to Fran that It was a Labour government that brought in Fees Free, t. This seems like a lay-up for them to run on reintroducing it, so why are they dropping the ball?
“It’s been a struggle to get them to commit to things in terms of student support,” Fran said
“BUT I have heard them making positive noise towards Winter energy payments, but they always seem to stop themselves from fully committing… ultimately, it’s up for students to reflect on which parties are not just making supportive noises but outright saying outright stating they will actually work towards a barrier, free debt, free education for you.
We will put in a winter energy payment.”
We asked Fran if this was incidental or a more hostile perspective on the part of the coalition, He felt the answer was obvious
“Oh yea. This government doesn’t give a shit about students. I think they actively view the idea of young people getting involved or young people having what they need to have a good life with contempt. “he said ‘We’re still going to fight to reverse the Government’s decision. There’s no question about that, and we’re still gonna work towards making it so that students don’t pay any fees and graduate with a debt free education.”
