Student Unity
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. The faction often votes against motions supporting issues that do not directly affect students or are felt to be too radical. Its belief is that the primary focus of the NUS should be issues directly relevant to students, and that pursuing advocacy on other, less student-specific, causes would be an inappropriate use of NUS funds.
Student Unity policy is generally consistent with the policies of the Right faction of the Australian Labor Party, holding positions generally in favour of private education, free trade and private health coverage. Among the Labor student factions it is the only faction to support HECS.
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 centre right moderate 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 NUS National Conference (but voted in favour in 2000) and before the 2006 conference it was common for Student Unity observers to be absent during the Queer and Women's policy sessions. However, Unity argues that while its caucus is mostly supportive of women's and queer rights, such issues are not student specific.
History
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, although their presence is 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 an independent.[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.
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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