Article: Push for national student card gains momentum

[ozbob]

From the Canberra Times click here!

Push for national student card gains momentum

Push for national student card gains momentum
BY BREANNA TUCKER
20 Jul, 2011 04:00 AM

Students across Australia could receive similar bus and train fare discounts as seniors thanks to the dedication of ACT students and the Government.

The National Union of Students has been running a grassroots campaign calling for the introduction of a national student concession card for three years with little success.

But ACT Community Services Minister Joy Burch has emerged as a champion for the cause, having secured unanimous support from the ACT Legislative Assembly to raise the issue at the next meeting of state and territory community services ministers.

Ms Burch has written to her interstate colleagues in the lead-up to the August 18 meeting and said many had already indicated their support.

But she has warned the nation's students that her efforts would be in vain unless they could prove a need for the card.

The National Union of Students has launched its Fair Fares for Students campaign and posted an online petition where it hopes to gain more than 5000 signatures.

The University of Canberra has led the charge, providing 200 of the 500 signatures tallied nationwide so far.

Kaleen law student Jason Paris, 23, lodged his signature yesterday after experiencing problems using his ACT concession card in Sydney.

''When I go home I could use a student concession to get to the western suburbs for less than $5 but ... because my University of Canberra card isn't recognised in NSW, I only narrowly avoided a fine for fare evasion,'' he said.

Banks graphic design student Laura Fookes, 19, said students could use her concession card on online bookings interstate but those who did ran the risk of having to produce ID once they arrived.

National Union of Students ACT branch president Rogan McMahon-Hogan said the petition would be marketed through Facebook and hard copies provided at O-Week celebrations in the coming weeks.

He urged as many people as possible to sign the petition.

''Transport is a major concern but there is also the possibility these [discounts] will extend to private companies in areas such as entertainment,'' he said.

The petition is available online at http://unistudent.com.au

[#Metro]

There is no need to introduce a new card. Just get everyone to agree that such cards will be universally recognised and reciprocated.

[SurfRail]

There is no need to introduce a new card. Just get everyone to agree that such cards will be universally recognised and reciprocated.

The problem is more that every state has different rules concerning what students have access to concessions - they have to be standardised first, as they have been for seniors.

The physical solution is just that every institution in Australia issued a card with a standard nationwide foil or logo, should be quite easy to implement.