Student Unity
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Student Unity (also known as SU or simply Unity) is a factional grouping within the Australian National Union of Students (NUS). It is politically aligned towards the Right or Labor Unity faction of the Australian Labor Party, in contrast to the National Labor Students faction, which is aligned to the Left.[1][2] Student Unity usually represents itself by means of a yin-yang logo, representing its position as the centre of the Australian political spectrum.
The faction views itself as being committed to both fiscal responsibility and lobbying for progressive causes, while its more left-wing opponents are critical of the faction's approach to social policy and view the faction as conservative and machinist.
Student Unity Policy
 | This section possibly contains original research. (February 2010) |
Aware of the financial collapse of NUS's forerunner, the Australian Union of Students, Unity's policy places particular emphasis on sound financial management and proper administration. Student unionism and student experiences at University. The faction often votes against motions supporting issues which do not directly affect students or which are felt to be too radical. The core philosophy is that NUS is there to represent students and if it were to spend its money on other social issues such as anti-globalisation, environmental causes or the crisis in the Middle East then it would not only be failing to represent students but it would be diverting money that could otherwise be spent on representing the educational and social needs of those students.
Student Unity policy is generally consistent with the policies of the moderates of the Australian Labor Party and the faction is generally in favour of policies such as private education,free trade and Medicare and among the Labor student factions it is the only faction to support HECS. The faction is often a strong supporter of student poverty motions and can face considerable opposition from the hard left such as the Grassroots Left and the Socialist Alternative who argue for a broader focus on equality in general.
Like the Australian Labor Party, Student Unity utilises conscience voting on controversial debates such as abortion and reproductive rights, drug policies and other ethical issues. Critics of the faction argue that this leads to support of moral and social conservatism, but the faction argues that it allows the faction to unite moderate progressive students under a single banner without splitting the faction on issues that are not critical to student services.
Opponents to Student Unity believe the group gives too little consideration towards feminist and queer issues and allege a lack of support for these members' policies within the caucus. For example, it voted against the creation of the queer department at the 1999 conference (but voted in favour in 2000) and it was common before the 2006 conference for Unity delegates and observers to not be present during the Queer and Women's policy sessions of conference. However, Unity argues that while its caucus is supportive of women's and queer issues it dismisses the idea that women's and queer rights are linked to students and that the National Union of Students should focus on issues directly relating to students. Despite their entitlement to a conscience vote the vast majority of Unity members support pro-choice and pro-LGBT motions.
History of Student Unity
Beginnings
The faction formed in 1991, when David Feeney led members of the Labor Right to split with the NOLS caucus, electing Pablo Campillos as NUS General Secretary, and refusing to back future Australian Democrats leader Natasha Stott Despoja for President of the Union.[3]
Since then, Unity has become one of the biggest factions in NUS, with a presence in most Australian states and territories, albeit weak in Western Australia, the Northern Territory, New South Wales, Queensland and Tasmania.
Until 2006, the faction had successfully retained the position of NUS National General Secretary every year since its inception, due to a 'sweetheart' deal with the former NOLS caucus. At the 2006 Conference, the faction failed to obtain the position of General Secretary for the first time in its history, the position going to independents.[4][5]
However at the 2007 Conference Student Unity produced a strong 33% of the national delegate vote and succeeded in electing a General Secretary, thus returning Student Unity to a significant role in NUS for the 2008 year.
List of Student Unity National Office Bearers
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2010
2009
2008
2007
2006
2005
2004
2003
2002
2001
2000
1999
1998
1997
1996
1995
1994
1993
1992
References
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