VSM passes

Stop the presses!

Parliament has just passed the Third Reading of the Education (Freedom of Association) Amendment Bill. The last bastion of compulsion has fallen, and once the Governor-General signs the Bill into law, membership of student associations will be voluntary.

This is a significant day for students throughout the country, who include amongst their number the Inventory children. We can't say that we have ever been a great fan of Act MP Heather Roy, but this will be her legacy when she retires from public life when Parliament dissolves.

The opposition parties (Labour, Greens, Mana and Maori; and of course Chris Carter, voting from Kabul) have fought this legislation tooth and nail, but it has all been for nowt. It became a die-in-a-ditch issue for Labour especially, but all the filibustering has been in vain; democracy rules.