What is VSM? And why is it mental?
Students' associations in New Zealand - including your own association, OPSA - are under serious threat from VSM leglislation.
Currently, when students enrol at Otago Polytechnic they pay a levy that goes towards services like advocacy, welfare services, recreation, and events like Orientation. They also become members of the students' association, OPSA, the democratic organisation run by students for students that controls how that money is spent. Students can opt out of membership and their association will not receive that levy.
However, ACT's VSM bill will seriouisly harm OPSA's ability to deliver the services and benefits you see on this site, and at worst it will destroy OPSA entirely (as it has done to most smaller associations like OPSA in Australia). VSM means you will end up paying more for these services (or for less services!), but without any say on how they're run.
ACT's proposed "full-blown" VSM has only ever been tried in Australia, and ended up costing students more in return for less services and representation.
Another effect of VSM is that students' associations will no longer be a strong voice for student issues - no one to voice your concerns about the increasing costs of education, no one to stand up for you when you have issues with your institution, and no one to complain about erosion of student support, etc...
Indeed looking at the effects of VSM in Australia (see reports below, or brief summary here) on most smaller associations - like OPSA - have been forced to close down entirely. There's no reason to think that VSM won't have the same effect on OPSA. So not only will your services and voice be harmed, they'll possibily be gone altogether.
Here's what OPSA said to the government committee considering VSM.
What can I do to stop this insanity?
Submissions to Parliament have now closed, but it is still very important to remind the Government how harmful VSM can be.
And let's not forget that National told students before the election that National would not vote for a change to VSM. MPs sometimes need us to remind them to stay honest.
Tell John Key what you think...
- Pick up a free-post anti-VSM post-card from the OPSA office.
- Even better you can write him a good old fashioned letter. Postage is free.
- You could also or instead write letter to the editor of a newspaper.
Below are some templates from the VSM submissions, some reasearch on the effects of VSM on Australian students, and some media releases that might be helpful.
Submissions
- Basic submission Template (Word doc)
- Comprehensive submission Template (Word doc)
- OPSA's Submission (Word doc)
- NZ Nurses Organisation Submission (PDF)
- Dunedin Mayor's Submission (PDF)
- Te Mana Akonga's Submission (Word doc)
- Australian National Union of Students Submission (PDF)
Effects of VSM in Australia studies
VSM has had a dramatic and mostly devestating effect in Australia. belwo are some studies and reports that may help in making a submission or letter to an MP. A handy brief summary of the effects of VSM in Australia can be found here.
Australian Government review
The Impact of
Voluntary Student Unionism on Services, Amenities and Representation for Australian University Students (Summary Report), Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, 2008
ACUMA/UniSport Report - effects on Services
A study on the impact of voluntary student unionism legislation at universities across Australia, ACUMA (campus service managers organisation) and UniSport, 2008
Typical effects at a large campus
The Impact of Voluntary Student Unionism on Services, Amenities
And Representation for Australian University Students, University of South Australia Students' Assoc, 2008
Effects on Women
The Impact of Voluntary Student Unionism (VSU) on Services, Amenities and Representation for Australian University Students, Arc@NUS Womens Department submission
Effects on Postgrads
The Impact of Voluntary Student Unionism on Services, Amenities and Representation for Australian University Students, Council of Australia Postgrad Associations, 2008
$80M fund to implement VSM
VOLUNTARY STUDENT UNIONISM TRANSITION FUND FOR SPORTING AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES, Australian Government, 2006
Hidden Costs of VSM
The Hidden Costs of VSU Legislation, David Noble, Manager, VSU Transition Project Southern Cross University, presentation to ATEM New Zealand Branch Conference, 2006
Media releases
What students' associations have said about VSM:
[NZUSA]
Don’t close the gap with Australia
“All the evidence shows that Australia’s recent experience with similar legislation has been damaging
and costly to students, tertiary institutions, and Government,” says NUS President Carla Drakeford. “Students who suffer the most from VSM are those whom may need the most support...” says Drakeford. more...
17 November 2010
[NZUSA]
Public poll reveals overwhelming
majority opposed to Act Party bill
The New Zealand public has again overwhelmingly declared that students themselves should
determine the method of students’ association membership, a week out from the committee stage of
a Bill that attempts to remove this choice. more...
30 November 2010
[NZUSA]
Don’t close the gap with Australia
“All the evidence shows that Australia’s recent experience with similar legislation has been damaging
and costly to students, tertiary institutions, and Government,” says NUS President Carla Drakeford. “Students who suffer the most from VSM are those whom may need the most support...” says Drakeford. more...
17 November 2010
[NZUSA]
Students call on PM to save student services
Students are requesting an urgent meeting with Prime Minister John Key to discuss how to
save student services, representation, and welfare provisions from an Act Party Bill after it
was voted through on its Second Reading in Parliament tonight. more...
10 November 2010
[NZUSA]
Reckless bill will put quality and students at risk
High quality tertiary education will be put at risk if an Act Party Bill being considered by Parliament is
further advanced next week. The Bill seeks to fundamentally alter membership of students’
associations, however students warn this will lead to downwards pressures on quality and higher
costs to students, staff, and tertiary institutions. more...
3 November 2010
[NZUSA]
National goes against 98% of submitters
Student representatives are appalled that National MPs have ignored the calls of students and the
public tonight. National MPs have chosen to support Act’s concerted attack on student services, as
debate on the Second Reading of the Education (Freedom of Association) Amendment Bill begun this
evening. Debate will conclude and a vote on the bill will be taken on the next Member’s Day, which is
scheduled for November 10. more...
20 October 2010
[NZUSA]
Will student opportunities be history?
Students’ associations have been working hard for students for over a hundred years and are
reminding MPs this week to vote down an Act Party Bill that will undermine the services, facilities and
vibrant campus environments that students use and enjoy. more...
18 October 2010
[NZUSA]
Students call on National to listen to the people
The Education and Science Select Committee is due to report back to Parliament by September 30.
The Committee received more than 4400 submissions, with an overwhelming 98% opposed to the
Education (Freedom of Association) Amendment Bill.. more...
21 September 2010
[NZUSA]
One bad apple should not spoil barrel of student associations
No business, charity, or
home is immune from fraud and crime. Take the recent examples of Roger
McClay with charities, or Mark Bryers with Blue Chip. While it is blatantly clear
that WISA has failed its members, it would be wrong to imply one example as
representative of all students’ associations. Calling for voluntary membership for
all student associations based on one example would be like calling for
Parliament to be abolished because of the deeds of [former MP] McClay. more...
19 August 2010
[NZUSA]
Bill will slash services and cut representation
Students will pay more to see their services slashed and representation cut if legislation being
considered by Parliament is passed. That was the key message delivered today by student representatives at the Education and
Science Select Committee. more...
29 April 2010
[OUSA]
Anti-VSM Petition Collects over 3,000 Signatures
“Most of our services would wither or disappear altogether if Douglas’ Bill becomes law,” says Dan Stride, a member of this year’s OUSA Executive who organised the petition. “Also, Otago students decided back in 1999 that they wanted a universal system of membership. The Government should respect our democratic choice.” more...
31 March 2010
[OPSA]
Is National Smarter Than Aussies?
Students are today hopeful that National will keep its word and not support Roger Douglas' voluntary membership of students' associations bill past its first reading. OPSA expects that once the bill is directed to a select committee and the severe damage the same legislation has done to associations and student services in Australia - and the over $80M costs and 1000 redundancies - it will be dropped or significantly changed. more...
23 September 2009
Other resources
Roger Douglas' VSM Bill (original)
Education (Freedom of Association) Amendment Bill, Roger Douglas, ACT Party
Membership and the Bill of Rights Act
Legal opinion, Feb 2010, Kensington Swan
Membership and the Bill of Rights Act
Legal opinion, May 1997, Chen & Palmer
