Student Unity (also known as SU or simply Unity) is a factional grouping within the Australian National Union of Students (NUS). WikipediaManual of Style#National varieties of English.-->A political faction It is politically aligned towards the Right or Labor Unity faction of the Australian Labor Party. The Labor Right, or Labor Unity is the organised faction of the Australian Labor Party (ALP that tends to be more economically liberal and socially conservative Student Unity usually represents itself by means of a yin-yang logo, representing its position as the centre of the Australian political spectrum. In Chinese philosophy, the concept of yin and yang ( is used to describe how seemingly opposing forces are bound together intertwined and interdependent in the A political spectrum (plural Spectra) is a way of modeling different political positions by placing them upon one or more geometric axes
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
Aware of the financial collapse of NUS|NUS's forerunner, the Australian Union of Students, Unity's policy places particular emphasis on sound financial management and proper administration, often limiting monies appropriated for campaigns not closely linked to education, student unionism and student experiences at University. The Australian Union of Students was the precursor to the National Union of Australian University Students - as a representative body and lobby group for Australian 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 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. See also Nuss Nus is a town and commune in the Aosta Valley region of northern Italy. Globalization (or globalisation) in its literal sense is the process of transformation of local or regional phenomena into global ones The Middle East is a Subcontinent with no clear boundaries often used as a synonym to Near East, in opposition to Far East.
Student Unity policy is broadly consistent with the current policies of the Australian Labor Party and the faction is generally in favour of policies such as free trade and Medicare and among the Labor student factions it is the only faction to support HECS. Free trade is a system in which the trade of goods and services between or within countries flows unhindered by government-imposed restrictions This article describes the Australian universal health scheme Medicare As a general rule all students who attend Australian tertiary education institutions are charged higher education fees. The faction is often a strong supporter of student poverty motions and can face considerable opposition from both the Grassroots Left and the Socialist Alternative who argue for a broader focus on equality in general. The Grassroots Left is a political grouping operating within the Australian National Union of Students and the Australian student movement
Like the Australian Labor Party, Student Unity utilises conscience voting on abortion and reproductive rights policies, drug policies and other controversial social issues. A conscience vote or free vote is a type of vote in a legislative body where legislators are each expected to vote according to their own personal conscience rather 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 member's policies within the caucus. For example, it voted against the creation of the queer department at the 1999 conference (but voted in favor 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, 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-queer motions. Overview See also Ethical aspects of abortion Pro-choice advocates emphasize their beliefs that having a child is a personal choice that affects a woman's body and
History of Student Unity
Beginnings
The faction formed in 1991, when David Feeney led members of the Labor Right within the NOLS caucus to join forces with elements of the Independents factions in a successful attempt to elect Pablo Campillos as NUS General Secretary. Year 1991 ( MCMXCI) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian Calendar. David Feeney (born 1970 is an Australian politician He has been a Labor member of the Australian Senate since July 2008 The National Organisation of Labor Students (usually known as NOLS, was a factional grouping operating within the Australian National Union of Students Students who politically organise on an independent basis can be classified into two groups Since then, Unity has become one of the biggest factions in NUS, with a presence in all Australian states and territories except Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Tasmania. The Commonwealth of Australia is made up of 8 states and territories controlled under a federal system of government
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. The term General Secretary (alternatively First Secretary) denotes a leader of various unions parties churches or associations 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 the Independents, despite the continued support of the National Labor Students, the successor to NOLS. Students who politically organise on an independent basis can be classified into two groups National Labor Students (NLS is a factional grouping operating within the Australian National Union of Students. The National Organisation of Labor Students (usually known as NOLS, was a factional grouping operating within the Australian National Union of Students However at the 2007 Conference the Student Unity candidate from Victoria, Ben Maxfield was successful in being elected 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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2008
- Ben Maxfield, General Secretary from Monash University
- Liz Larbalestier, Welfare Officer from University of Wollongong. The University of Wollongong (UOW is a public university with approximately 22000 students located in the coastal city of Wollongong, which is 80 kilometres south of
2007
- Josh Rayner, Welfare Officer from the University of Adelaide
- Jamila Rizvi (resigned), Ethnocultural Officer from Australian National University. The University of Adelaide (colloquially Adelaide University or Adelaide Uni) is a Public university located in Adelaide, South Australia The Australian National University, commonly abbreviated to ANU, is a public Research university situated in Canberra, Australia.
2006
- Michael de Bruyn, General Secretary from University of Melbourne.
2005
- Sacha Fenton, General Secretary from University of Queensland. The UQ Union is the central student organisation at the University of Queensland.
- Katana Smith, Welfare / Small and Regional Campus Officer from Flinders University.
2004
- Daniel Mookhey, General Secretary from University of Technology, Sydney
- Lambros Tapinos, Welfare / Small & Regional Campus Officer from Victoria University. The University of Technology Sydney Students' Association is the representative body for students at the University of Technology Sydney. Victoria University Student Union (VUSU is the Peak body representing and supporting all students at Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia
2003
- Michael Comninos, General Secretary from University of Sydney. The University of Sydney Students' Representative Council (SRC is the representative body for undergraduate students at the University of Sydney.
- Belinda Clark, Queer Officer from Curtin University. Belinda Jane Clark AM (born 10 September, 1970 in Newcastle New South Wales) is a female Australian Cricketer The Curtin Student Guild is the student representative association at Curtin University
2002
- Dave Hughes, General Secretary from the University of New South Wales. The University of New South Wales, also known as UNSW or colloquially as New South, is a University situated in Kensington, a suburb in
2001
- Lizzie Blandthorn, General Secretary from University of Melbourne
- Rachel Thomson, Welfare / Small & Regional Campus Officer from University of Tasmania. The Tasmania University Union Inc (TUU is the Students' union that represents tertiary students attending the University of Tasmania.
2000
- Simon Lees, General Secretary from University of Sydney. The University of Sydney Students' Representative Council (SRC is the representative body for undergraduate students at the University of Sydney.
- Charlie Heuston, Education Officer from Flinders University.
1999
- Gilbert Astorga, General Secretary from University of Tasmania. The Tasmania University Union Inc (TUU is the Students' union that represents tertiary students attending the University of Tasmania.
- Tom Cargill, Welfare / Small & Regional Campus Officer from Flinders University.
1998
- Erica Martin, General Secretary from Murdoch University.
1997
- Chris Burrell, General Secretary from Australian Maritime College.
1996
- Roland Stephens, General Secretary from University of Sydney. The University of Sydney Students' Representative Council (SRC is the representative body for undergraduate students at the University of Sydney.
1995
- Michael Gadiel, General Secretary from University of Sydney. The University of Sydney Students' Representative Council (SRC is the representative body for undergraduate students at the University of Sydney.
- Michelle MacDonald, Women's Officer from La Trobe University.
1994
- Wendy Haydon, General Secretary from James Cook University.
- Tim Lyons, Education Officer from University of Tasmania. The Tasmania University Union Inc (TUU is the Students' union that represents tertiary students attending the University of Tasmania.
1993
- Simon Hoffman, General Secretary from University of Western Australia. The University of Western Australia (UWA is the oldest university in the state of Western Australia.
1992
- Pablo Campillos, General Secretary from Curtin University. Curtin University of Technology is a University with its main campus at Bentley, southeast of Perth, the capital of Western Australia.
References
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Australia's universities are home to a variety of different Student union groups providing a range of political commercial and other services to students The Adelaide University Union (AUU was founded in 1895. Until 2006 the AUU funded seven affiliated bodies The Deakin University Student Association ( DUSA4U) in Victoria Australia is the representative association of Deakin University 's student body The student union one of several student organisations at the University of Melbourne, Australia, is divided into two parts Arc @ UNSW Limited is a not-for-profit public company based in Sydney, Australia, serving as the Student union at the University of New South Wales The UQ Union is the central student organisation at the University of Queensland. The RMIT Student Union Council commonly known as the RMIT Student Union, is the representative body for all students enrolled at RMIT University The University of Sydney Union ( USU) commonly referred to as The Union, is the student-run services and amenities provider at the University of Sydney The Tasmania University Union Inc (TUU is the Students' union that represents tertiary students attending the University of Tasmania. UTS Union Limited is the peak service provider at the University of Technology Sydney. Victoria University Student Union (VUSU is the Peak body representing and supporting all students at Victoria University, Melbourne, Australia The UWA Student Guild is the premier student representative body at the University of Western Australia. The SAUA (Students' Association of the University of Adelaide was a Students' Representative Council like body that existed for students at the University of Adelaide from Monash University Berwick Campus is a campus of Monash University located in Berwick, which is a suburb of Melbourne, Australia, in the state Monash University Caulfield campus is a campus of Monash University located in Caulfield, which is a suburb of Melbourne, Australia, in The Monash Student Association (Clayton Inc (MSA is located at the Clayton campus of Monash University in the Campus Centre building The Gippsland campus of Monash University is located in the town of Churchill 142 km east of Melbourne The University of New England Students' Association (UNESA was the representative body for undergraduate students at the University of New England, Australia. The Newcastle University Students' Association (NUSA represents undergraduate students at the University of Newcastle, NSW Australia The QUT Student Guild is the student union at the Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane UniLife is the peak student representative body in the UniSA Spread across its four metropolitan campuses is the Centre for Regional Engagement, encompassing Whyalla and Swinburne Student Union (SSU is peak student representative body of Swinburne University of Technology in Melbourne, Australia. The University of Sydney Students' Representative Council (SRC is the representative body for undergraduate students at the University of Sydney. The University of Technology Sydney Students' Association is the representative body for students at the University of Technology Sydney. The Australian Liberal Students' Federation (ALSF is a student group informally associated with the Liberal Party of Australia. The Australian Union of Students was the precursor to the National Union of Australian University Students - as a representative body and lobby group for Australian University The Australasian Union of Jewish Students (AUJS is a federation of Jewish student societies at Australian and New Zealand universities and other higher The Grassroots Left is a political grouping operating within the Australian National Union of Students and the Australian student movement Students who politically organise on an independent basis can be classified into two groups National Labor Students (NLS is a factional grouping operating within the Australian National Union of Students. The National Liaison Committee ( NLC) is a national faction in the National Union of Students of Australia. Socialist Alternative (often abbreviated as SA) is a Trotskyist group in Australia formed by a split from the International Socialist Organisation The Australian Labor Students was a Political faction within the National Union of Students. The National Organisation of Labor Students (usually known as NOLS, was a factional grouping operating within the Australian National Union of Students
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