The Guardian 7 June, 2006
Adelaide students WorkChoices protest
Bob Briton
Hundreds of Adelaide students joined a noisy protest on the steps of Parliament last Thursday; making plain their opposition to the Howard Government’s outrageous WorkChoices legislation and their determination to build the big national community day of action on June 28. The student walkout was part of a national student strike in protest at the latest attack on workers’ rights.
Youth Against WorkChoices spokesperson Liah Lazarou introduced National Tertiary Education Union organiser Lisa Lines who asked the question, "What should we do? Wait until the next elections to get rid of the Howard Government?" A loud "No" was clear answer. As Lisa pointed out, many of the young people directly affected by the repressive new industrial relations regime still do not have the vote. The only choice available was to take the issue to the streets as happened in the days of the Vietnam War and recently in France. Young people should join their unions and be active in them, Lisa said.
Mitchell Jones of Resistance supported the idea of more visible action. "We need to take it to the streets and work or our conditions will be made even more intolerable… I won’t stand for this and neither will you", he said.
Travis Gilbert, True Greens candidate for Mitchell at the last state elections urged students to "get in touch with your teachers, get in touch with your SRC. Let them know that that these terrible laws cannot be allowed to remain in force." Aberfoyle Park High School student Jessykah Curtis spoke of her concerns that conditions at the chicken shop she works at will worsen and become the norm in the jobs she will have throughout her life.
The chanting students later marched through the crowded shopping precinct of Rundle Mall.