Public transport concessions: Where is Victoria headed?
VICTORIA remains to be the only state without travel concessions for its international students. Wenjing Zhang questions if this stance is doing more harm than good.
Photo: zoonabar via Flickr
When I moved to Melbourne to complete my second degree, I wasn’t surprised to find that study fees, accommodation and the cost of living were much higher than in Adelaide, where I had finished my first degree after moving here from China.
But it came as a shock to find out that, unlike my local friends who had a concession pass for public transport, I would have to pay full fare to travel. In fact, I am still in shock.
Earlier this year, New South Wales granted international students transport concessions, leaving Victoria the only state in Australia still stopping international visa-carrying students from accessing concession cards. Adding to the pressure is the recent increase in Victorian public transport fares.
A report done by the Herald Sun last year shows that two thirds of international students didn’t know they were going to pay for full fares for transport and if they knew, they wouldn’t have chosen to study in Victoria.
The Victorian Government has maintained a stubborn stance on the issue, believing that ‘taxpayer’ money shouldn’t be misused.
Former Victorian Minister for Tertiary Education and Training, Phil Honeywood stated, “The state governments, whether they’re Labor or Liberal, simply cannot find additional money to subsidise the bus, train, and tram fares for international students. There are always hospitals, roads and school in the state that need money.”
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Students likely wouldn’t study in Victoria had they known about the public transport fares in the state, according to the Herald Sun. Photo: Alpha via Flickr
To me, it seems unwise for the Government to consider concession cards a revenue concern given the loss of income that unfair transport fees bring to the economy.
Many of you might know that the Australian economy relies heavily on education. It’s been shown by the Australian Bureau of Statistics that $4.5 billion was pumped by international students into the Victorian economy in 2008. If all students are granted with concessions, there will be a $93 million cost.
Yet, the ABS indicates that student visa applications declined by 37 per cent between 2008-2009 and 2010-11. The $93 million cost of student concessions does not appear significant when the state has lost $1 billion in the last year because of the sharp decline in international students.
If the state government continues to directly or indirectly exploit students without caring about their basic needs, Australia’s education industry will be eroded.
A report by the Herald Sun last year shows that two thirds of international students didn’t know they were going to pay for full fares for transport and if they knew, they wouldn’t have chosen to study in Victoria.
The Australian Council for Private Education and Training (ACPET) also reports that 89 per cent of students say they wouldn’t recommend other students study in Victoria because of unfair treatment on public transport.
Despite the dramatic drop in numbers of applying international students in Victoria, communications manager at Public Transport Victoria, Donna Watson, still believes Victoria has done well.
Discounted public transport (subsidised by taxpayers to 70 per cent) is provided to certain students – students who are part of an approved exchange program, who are on Australian Development Scholarships or have been granted refugee status are eligible for concessions.
Photo: Bryan Yap via Flickr
The Government argues that whoever comes to Victoria to study long-term must have sufficient funds to cover their costs of living as one has to indicate that in order to successfully get a student visa.
International students are presumed to wallow in money. Well, this presumption is flawed. Unfortunately, the truth is most international students are struggling with financial difficulties.
Students from wealthy families do not come to Australia. Instead, they pursue education in countries like the US and the UK because they have the money to go there and also because they highly value the rank of the university they go to. Other students from ordinary families also desire the experience of studying overseas but their families can only afford to send them to countries like Australia, which is less expensive. In fact, many international students who come to Australia are from working class families.
The Victorian Government has a duty of care to everyone who lives in this state, including those who are on student visas. Yet, it is failing international students.
A recent article in The Age shows that many international students who study in Australia have incomes of less than $20,000 or even $10,000 annually. To make ends meet, a lot of students live on cheap junk food, cram into tiny apartments, share rooms, and have no choice but to work illegally and get paid $8 or $10 per hour.
Some students skip meals to save cash for the transport costs and some others end up walking home even late at night to save transportation costs.
Students have to risk dangerous circumstances. There have been several assaults in recent years targeting Indian and Chinese international students walking in isolated places.
Australia’s education industry, worth approximately $17 billion, is endangered. Many students have changed their mind and are choosing other countries instead because they have been warned that Australia is not safe. More needs to be done to show students that they are safe and welcomed in this country. For a start, Victoria’s restriction on concessions for international students should be overturned.
International students are not just cash cows for universities and the government but also human beings. Their well-being must be a matter for concern.
Revealed by Meld Magazine, it’s not just the internationals who are outraged by their treatment. Locals find the “segregation” of ticket prices “unfair”, “confusing” and “disappointing”.
Monash Deputy Mayor Jieh-Yung Lo told Meld Magazine that the Government is sidelining a group of students by asking them to pay different transport fairs. He also believes this is discrimination and is a social inequity issue that needs to be addressed.
Related story: Local councils back call for public transport concessions
International law student, Satu Aho (pictured) is fighting for a difference. You can sign her petition to change transport concessions for international students. Photo: Shaun Lee
Visa terms ask that students pledge they can meet their own costs, listing a variety of expenses. But it fails to talk about discrimination or targeted exploitation. Students are being sold a lemon. They are promised a fantasy. The Victorian Government has a duty of care to everyone who lives in this state, including those who are on student visas. Yet, it is failing international students.
International students are not just cash cows for universities and the government but also human beings. Their well-being must be a matter for concern.
We need students to feel welcome, supported and safe so that they can study happily and fulfill their Australian dreams. If the state government continues to directly or indirectly exploit students without caring about their basic needs, Australia’s education industry will be eroded.
Wenjing Zhang is an international student who studies Masters of Social Work at the University of Melbourne.