Getting ripped off by the Victorian Government

Do you see that? Do you SEE that? That's us. The international students of Victoria. The students who have contributed thousands and thousands of dollars into the Victorian economy, and who have acted as cash cows since the very day we stepped onto the Australian grounds. So it was our choice to come here. So we chose to spend the next few years under the Australian education system, and yes, so we do believe that the universities in Australia can provide a high level of education. But does that mean they have the right to continue ripping us off just because we do not have the right to vote?

Today, I had to travel out into the suburbs for a friend's 21st birthday party at her house. Fair enough, a group of friends and I knew that the travel cost would be more expensive, since her house is located in zone 2, about an hour away from the Melbourne CBD where we all live. But I personally did not expect to pay a hefty sum of AUD9.70 for a freaking metcard! I mean.. come ON... ten bucks for public transport? While the locals would only have to pay less then half the amount we pay. Times that by 5 people, that would be an easy fifty bucks thrown in, and multiply that by the number of international students travelling today, you do the math.
After sixteen years of fighting for transport concession, the legislation for international students to receive travel concession has not been successful. How much more do we have to do before the Victorian Government will listen to us? We've tried all alternatives possible: flooding their mailboxes with bags and bags of signed postcards, holding rallies such as the picture above, attending meetings, publishing articles to create public awareness - all this for nothing.

And when we ask students to support us through signing petitions, or asking them to take out one hour of their time which would otherwise be spent shopping or socializing at cafes, they say "what's the point? nothing will happen one lah..."
If they don't do anything, if they don't show support, of course nothing will happen! and the government is not ignorant, they know that there are many students who simply "don't care" so why should they bother?

Ironically, it is these students who complain when they are faced with a $150 fine for refusing to pay that $3.10 to travel three stops on the tram. Curse and swear all they want, but if those tram conductors issue you a ticket, you've gotta abide by the rules or DIMIA will kick you out of the country.

As for myself, I am still a little annoyed for having to pay that $9.70 today. Nevertheless, I will continue giving my support to those putting much effort into giving equality to all international students here in Victoria, because even if we will never be granted that concession card, at least I know that we've put in that effort.