Several hundred people in more than 60 cars and on more than 20 bicycles assembled at Woolloomooloo this morning to protest against cuts to the tertiary and higher education sectors.
During COVID-19, social distancing laws mean that mass gatherings, such as rallies, have been deemed illegal. So activist groups have had to formulate alternative means of protesting to circumvent these new laws safely. Car convoys have become one way to publicly protest en masse under the current regime.
Universities have been hit hard by the economic fallout from COVID-19, particularly with Australia’s closed borders preventing an intake of international students. But hit hardest of all are the casual workers, academics and professional staff at universities, many of whom have lost work, or are threatened with reduced working conditions and pay. They are not eligible for the Federal Government’s Jobkeeper allowance.
Universities have become increasingly market-driven institutions over the last 20 years or so and its workforce has become far more casualised and insecure. There is currently an internal struggle within the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU), whose national executive is proposing a compromise deal with universities. Many rank and file members are unhappy with the deal and are urging the union membership to vote ‘No’, against the upcoming so-called 'National Jobs Protection Framework'. Today’s protest highlighted some of these issues.
The convoy departed from Mrs Maquarie’s Chair and made its way to Liberal Party headquarters on William Street.
Part of an ongoing photographic series, 'COVID-19 Diaries'.
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