Staff and students at the University of Sydney have united in overwhelming opposition to fee deregulation at a historic meeting that was threatened with being shut down within minutes of starting.
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The university's Vice-Chancellor Michael Spence is a key supporter of the government's push for uncapped fee deregulation but there was little indication on how he would proceed in the face of clear opposition from staff, students and alumni.
Twenty-six people spoke in front of more than 500 at the meeting on Monday night, only one of whom voiced full support for Christopher Pyne's education reforms, which include fee deregulation, funding cuts and an increase in student loan charges.
During his presentation, Dr Spence was greeted with vocal protests from students at the back of the hall that threatened to end the meeting. MC Adam Spencer said he would shut it down if speakers were not permitted to make their arguments uninterrupted by shouting.
Speakers, including Executive Director at the Australian National Committee for UN Women Julie McKay, academic Dr Nicholas Riemer and PhD student Jun Tong argued forcefully against the education reforms. Alex Dore, a councillor at the Sydney University Postgraduate Representative Association, was the only person to speak openly in support of fee deregulation.
Alumna and staff member Rebecca Plumbe said she wanted to see the university lobby the government for other options, while postgraduate student Simon Hill said that if deregulation was to happen, he wanted more accountability from the university on where the money went.
Edward McMahon, a director at the University of Sydney Union, put to the meeting an informal motion which said: "This gathering condemns the education reforms announced at the 2014 budget. In particular we condemn the cuts to university funding, the proposed interest rate on HECS debt and the deregulation of fees. We call on all bodies of the university, including you Michael Spence, to campaign against these measures and for a government-funded quality education system for all."
People attending the meeting expressed overwhelming support for the motion.
The meeting marked the beginning of a consultation period between the university, students, staff and alumni that will include an online form, staff discussions and focus groups.
The university held the town hall meeting after a failed petition by several senate members urging the chancellor to hold a convocation - a formal meeting of staff and alumni. A convocation has not been held for more than 60 years and would be open to hundreds of thousands of former students.
The rebel fellows – including arts editor Catriona Menzies-Pike, former ALP state minister Verity Firth and ABC Radio National host Andrew West, elected by the alumni, and Patrick Massarani, elected by the undergraduates – want the whole university community to debate the fee deregulation plan.
The revolt inside the university's powerful ruling body is threatening to undermine the federal government's proposal to allow an unprecedented rise in student fees.
