David Williamson, Cate Blanchett, Max Gillies and Over 200 Other Artists, Writers and Performers Call on the Federal Government to Abandon Its Legislation to Abolish Compulsory University Student Union Fees. (May 17, 2005)

    In paid advertisements in today's Australian newspapers writers and artists in the graphic and performing arts cautioned the Federal Government that Australia's universities risk becoming "cultural slums and a national disgrace" under new laws abolishing compulsory student union fees. They join members of Australia's sporting administrations in condemning the legislation being put forward by The Ministers for Education, Science and Training, and Employment and Workplace Relations, Brendan Nelson and Kevin Andrews respectively. As the ad puts it:

The ability to tell our stories in a unique Australian voice is too precious to waste. Extracurricular activities, available to each and every student on campus, have produced a huge array of talented artists who have enriched the nation's culture and, in many cases, become national and international icons.

Max Gillies pointed out to The Age "The Melbourne Theatre Company . . . was built on the back of university student drama."

While opposition from academics to the abolition of compulsory student union fees is readily dismissed by Dr Nelson and Mr Andrews, academicians have negligible influence with the voting public, that's not quite the case when it come to protests from the sporting community and the arts.

Who knows, David Williamson just might decide to revoke his decision to put down his playwright's pen and write an Australian adaptation of David Pownall's Masterclass with Brendan Nelson as the protagonist.