Hey, I’m Erin. I’m a history student and a socialist, and this year I’m running for women’s officer with Left Action.
Students’ lives are getting worse in so many ways. It is getting harder to afford rent and pay for basic life necessities while the Labor government refuses to increase Centrelink above the poverty line and our universities sell student housing to price-gouging companies. Higher education is in a dire state after year upon year of cuts to courses and staff numbers, yet we’re expected to fork out thousands of dollars and spend decades paying off our HECS debts.
Our student unions have a responsibility to do something about this situation. They should be activist bodies that fight the government and vice chancellors for the sorts of changes that will ease cost of living pressures and push back the corporatisation of our universities.
They also need to take a stand on social issues. Sexism continues to impact women in every aspect of their lives. Abortion rights has been an ongoing issue in WA which has some of the most backward laws in the country. We had a significant win this year with the WA government announcing changes to abortion rights which will make them easier to access, a result of over a year of protests led by Left Action activists like myself.
But we need to keep fighting - the high cost of abortions ($250 for the abortion pill and around $750 for surgical) and the fact they are only available in 3 private clinics mean that there are still barriers to accessing abortion in this state. This matters not only for women across WA, but particularly for women who are at university and more likely to struggle to pay the high cost. When student unions throw their resources into these campaigns, they have a much better chance of winning.
Vote [1] Left Action for an activist guild that fights for students
Vote [1] Erin Russell for women’s officer