Welcome back to Glass’s coverage of the QUT Guild’s Student Representative Council (SRC) meetings! In 2026, the first meeting for the newly elected council members took place on Thursday the 29th of January at Kelvin Grove campus.
COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
You can find a link to the minutes from the meeting on this page once published, and you can read our live coverage on threads.
AND WE’RE OFF!
President Caleb McGiffin began the meeting at 6:06pm. Before proceeding, McGiffin provided an acknowledgement of country, paying respects to the Yuggera and Turrbal people.
Roll call confirmed the attendance of the following officers:
President – Caleb McGiffin
Secretary – Samuel Hulls
Treasurer – Matthew Bloder – Present
Welfare Officer – Isaac Oliver
Engagement Officer – Miles Hirst (Online)
Clubs and Societies Officer – Geoffrey Latz
Environment Officer – Yuanyi Tham (Online)
Postgrad Officer – Vaibhavi “V” Bisht
International Officer – Rajinder Singh
First Nations Officer – Mimi Lewis
Queer Officer – Lauren “Ren” Johnstone
Disability Officer – Felix Park Weir
Engineering Faculty Councillor – Alex Bradbury
Health Faculty Councillor – Ethan Johnstone
Health Faculty Councillor – Caitlin Brennan
Science Faculty Councillor – Connor Lowe
CIESJ Councillor – Elowyn Gampe
The following officers were absent:
Education Officer – Georgie Dobbs (with apologies)
Engineering Faculty Councillor – Chan Nguyen
Science Faculty Councillor – Rajit Bhargava
Business & Law Faculty Councillor – Georgina Marmol
Women’s Officer – Keely McConnell (yet to assume position)
Chair – Vacant
Deputy Chair – Vacant
Business & Law Faculty Councillor – Vacant
CIESJ Councillor – Vacant
ELECTIONS
SRC Chair
With no reports from the Queer, Women’s, or Disability Collectives, focus shifted to the vacant Student Representative Council Chair position—the two candidates being Michael Pendergast and Vishnu Raj.
Michael Pendergast was in Japan at the time of the meeting; however, Queer Officer Ren Johnstone spoke in their stead. Johnstone praised Michael’s various contributions towards the Disability and Queer Collectives, alongside their service as an Engineering Faculty Councillor. Vishnu Raj was not present.
When moved to vote, Michael Pendergast was unanimously elected as Chair. With Michael being unavailable for the current meeting, President Caleb McGiffin nominated Health Faculty Councillor Ethan Johnstone as temporary Chair. Ethan remained chair for the rest of the session.
Business and Law Faculty Councillor
The sole candidate was Elisabeth Kaptain; Secretary Samuel Hulls spoke in their stead. Being the only candidate, Elisabeth was voted through with a majority.
Creative Industries, Education, and Social Justice (CIESJ) Councillor
Vacancies wrapped up with the CIESJ Councillor position, with Business and Comms student Lucas Gordon as the only applicant.
Lucas used their allocated speaking time to voice their strong support for unions, finishing the pitch with a summary of how they’d advocate for student interests. Lucas Gordon was voted through.
POTENTIAL REGULATIONS VIOLATION
Before moving along to motions, Chair Ethan Johnstone flagged a potential regs violation regarding two similar proposals—one which had been moved with notice, and the other without. Both motions sought to denounce US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) for the murder of Renée Good. The difference between them lay in the allocation of blame. The new proposal—moved by Socialist Alternative (SAlt)—claimed that the current Australian Labor Party (ALP) Government was largely complicit in this murder, via its support of the current US Admin.
Chair Ethan Johnstone invoked SRC regulation 7.12, which required separate motions to be substantially different when they covered the same topic. Johnstone continued, stating that in the event two motions are deemed “too similar”, that only the first motion needed consideration.
Socialist Alternative (SAlt) affiliate and observer Connor Knight responded to the potential breach by asking if the role of deciding whether motions are “too similar” fell exclusively upon the Chair. This query was confirmed by the Chair Ethan Johnstone. While Knight seemed to accept the outcome, they stated that “We think they’re pretty different” before ceding the microphone.
MOTIONS WITH NOTICE
Amend QUT Guild Regulations Regarding Motions Without Notice
Secretary Samuel Hulls acted as mover, and summarised a variety of issues with the current Guild regulations and explained that as it stands, the current time given to interpret motions without notice is insufficient; Secretary Hulls argued that this had led to representatives possessing an insufficient grasp of what they were voting for, alongside worse policy outcomes.
Hulls proposed that representatives ought to be provided with ten-minute adjournments to read and interpret motions without notice. They concluded with the sentiment that last-minute policy proposals should be voted on by the floor before they are given serious consideration.
President Caleb McGiffin seconded the motion, arguing that the motion represented a step towards accessibility. McGiffin referred to both the presence and positive impact of Auslan interpreters—a feature absent from previous SRC meetings.
“It’s better for their sake that they’re given a chance to read the motions and process them as we go into debate and conversation. So, I think it’s common sense.”
CIESJ Officer Elowyn Gampe spoke against the motion. Gampe argued that insufficient attention had been drawn to a vote taking place before a motion is heard.
“I think it’s actually anti-democratic to make it so that there’s a vote before a motion is even read.”
Gampe brought attention to the fast-moving nature of politics and the necessity for an SRC that’s adaptive and flexible. They concluded by stating that council already had a minimum democratic requirement for a motion to be heard.
First Nations Officer Mimi Lewis raised the potential time issues caused by ten-minute adjournments—particularly in relation to multiple motions without notice. Lewis finished by questioning whether an adjournment of that length was always necessary.
Chair Ethan Johnston briefly explained the purpose and implications of the motion, after which the floor was given to Queer Officer Ren Johnstone.
“I would like to move an amendment to the motion to change 7.2 to say from what it currently says, to all motions proposed without notice shall be delivered in writing to the Chair at the commencement of the meeting or at the commencement of the relevant agenda item to which the motion relates, unless the Constitution and regulations require otherwise,” said Queer Officer Ren Johnstone.
The amendment was accepted by Mover Samuel Hulls.
The Motion moved to a vote and passed unanimously, with President Caleb McGiffin moving a procedural to have the motion apply to this meeting.
Withdrawal of SSAF Funding from the NUS National Conference
The motion was moved by Queer Officer Ren Johnstone, who provided a summary of how the conference was funded. Johnstone explained that the National Union of Students (NUS) is funded primarily through compulsory Student Services and Amenities Fees (SAAF), paid by university students across Australia. They argue that these out-of-pocket fees are meant to fund tangible services and student-based representation.
“In 2025 alone, Australian students contributed over $556,000 in SSAF funding to the NUS… The 2025 National Conference of the NUS demonstrated a profound failure to meet even the most basic standards of democratic governance”
Ren listed various ways the conference failed to advocate for student interests, which included but were not limited to: an inability to hit quorum for two days, lack of accessibility for those with disabilities, dogmatic adherence to factions, a hostile environment that made collaboration impossible, and rampant, unchecked self-interest (among countless other factors).
Ren aptly summarised their speech by stating the conference was “a waste of hundreds of thousands of dollars of student money.”
The motion was seconded by President Caleb McGiffin—an attendee of the 2025 conference.
“The 2025 National Conference of the National Union of Students was one of the worst in its history, if not the worst in its history. It was a complete let down to students… We cannot have a conference like NatCon 2025 again. It cannot be accepted. The NUS has to do better… I condemn the conference to the fullest extent, and I hope to see better from them, and I will continue to call for better from them as leader of this Guild.”
Disability Officer Felix Park Weir spoke in favour of the motion, condemning the conference for its failure to represent students with disabilities.
“I don’t think I could look one of the disabled students here in the eye and say that it made their [university] experience better.”
Treasurer Matt Bloder was the last to speak for the motion, stating that the money spent on the conference could have been spent more effectively on different initiatives.
Socialist Alternative (SAlt) Observer Connor Knight spoke against the motion. They argued that the substantial delays were a result of Labor aligned factions trying to lock SAlt members out of all executive positions.
“Basically, everything that’s happened in the NUS over the past 5 years that was any good, happened because of SAlt.”
Knight further referenced the group’s advocacy for Palestine, its opposition against Abbott’s university deregulation, and SAlt’s general drive towards progressive initiatives. Knight said that they stand by Socialist Alternative pulling quorum at the NUS conference.
CIESJ Officer and SAlt member Elowyn Gampe supported Knight’s statements. Gampe continued by advocating for the NUS’s capacity to deliver positive change.
Queer Officer Ren Johnstone countered these notions, saying that “I want to make it clear that nowhere in my motion does it condemn the NUS as a whole, it’s simply condemning the fact that the conference was not functional, democratic, or representative. I agree with what you’re saying; the NUS has done many, many, many, good things. Last year’s conference was not one of them.”
Disagreement continued, with the motion’s clarity and meaning emerging as a major point of contention. Faculty Councillor Caitlin Brennan’s comment concluded discussion—council heading to a vote shortly after.
“I see absolutely no world in which you can condemn this motion, without coming across as caring more for a faction than the students at QUT.”
When taken to a vote, the motion passed with a majority. CIESJ Officer Elowyn Gampe and Environment Officer Yuanyi Tham abstained.
Give the Clubs and Societies Officer Rubric Access
The next motion aimed to provide Clubs and Societies Officer (CSO) Geoffrey Latz Rubric Access.
Due to allegations against a former CSO, access to broader clubs’ rubric was revoked. Latz told Councill that they needed Rubric Access to effectively work their job. President Caleb McGiffin seconded the motion, calling it “common sense”.
Going to a vote, it passed unanimously.
Condemn the Killing of Renée Good by ICE in Minneapolis
The next motion condemned the killing of Renée Good by ICE in Minneapolis. President Caleb McGiffin attempted to move the motion, however before they could, Elowyn Gampe argued that SAlt’s motion be read instead. Council was adjourned for five- minutes while SAlt members Elowyn Gampe, Connor Lowe, Alexander Bradbury, Connor Knight, and Inara Rus organised their amendments.
Once the session resumed, Elowyn Gampe proposed an amendment to the motion, urging the QUT guild to stand in solidarity with the struggle against ICE brutality in Minneapolis. The amendment stated that mass strikes were the answer, not the Democratic party. SAlt’s other changes to the motion declared that the “QUT Guild calls for the abolition of ICE,” and that “The QUT Guild condemns the ALP’s cozy relationship with the Trump Administration and demands they cut all ties with his regime.”
President Caleb McGiffin accepted all but the last point.
Connor Knight spoke for the last point of the amendment, arguing that the ALP are responsible for destruction and death worldwide. When moved to a vote, the amendment narrowly passed with a margin of eight for and six against, with three representatives abstaining.
With the motion being stolen, observer Irana Rus spoke for the newly amended motion.
“Imperialism has been around since the US has existed, and that is why we’re actually striking it. There is no free world. You know, Palestinians are not free. Iraqis are not free. There are so many people in this world who are not free, and a lot of it comes down to US imperialism.
When moved to a vote, the motion passed unanimously.
Oppose the Victoria Park Barrambin Stadium
The next motion of the evening was moved by Queer Officer Ren Johnstone.
“The LNP government’s support for the Victoria Park Stadium proposal demonstrates A consistent pattern of prioritising prestige infrastructure projects, private commercial interests and political optics over evidence-based planning, environmental responsibility and social equity.”
Ren continued to critique the development, citing significant and sustained environmental damage. They condemned the State Government’s short-sighted development plan, arguing that it sought to appease corporate interests above all else. Ren concluded by discussing the area’s importance to First Nations communities, highlighting Barrambin’s cultural significance. Despite this significance, Ren concluded by drawing attention to a heritage application that had been submitted seeking to protect the area—rejected by the Federal Environment Minister.
Despite agreeing with the motion, First Nations Officer Mimi Lewis made a point to recognise that as it stood, the Government did not recognise or act in accordance with the Values of First Nations peoples—a significant portion of Victoria Park being maintained as a golf course.
The motion passed unanimously.
Condemn America’s Disregard for Sovereignty
The final motion with notice was moved by President Caleb McGiffin. McGiffin spoke to their fears surrounding the current Admin’s disregard for international law.
“That’s the bit that freaked me out the most about Venezuela was how blatant it was, where the president didn’t try to justify it with some jingoistic nonsense or some ******** excuse. They just said blatantly, we want their oil, we want to put their oil in Chevron’s hands. And that’s just shocking to me.”
SAlt members moved an amendment to condemn the ALP for their cozy relationship with the Trump regime. This amendment was passed.
The motion passed as amended.
MOTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
January 26th Invasion Day
After a ten-minute adjournment, the meeting resumed with First Nations Officer Mimi Lewis acting as mover.
“Mimi Lewis, First Nations Officer. This is just a short motion to say that Invasion Day will be recognised as Invasion Day on official Guild calendars. That’s it.”
CIESJ Officer Elowyn Gampe supported the motion, referring to the growing rise of the far-right, 2025 being the worst year in Australian history for Indigenous deaths in custody, and the likelihood of Indigenous children being incarcerated being 27 times higher than average.
The motion passed almost unanimously; only Engagement Officer Miles Hirst abstained from the vote.
Smoking Ceremonies and Welcome to Country
First Nations Officer Mimi Lewis also moved the next motion.
“UT Guild has a responsibility to represent First Nations people at all events with extended welcome to countries and smoking ceremonies.”
The motion passed unanimously.
QUT Guild Opposes Undemocratic ‘Hate Speech’ Laws
Observer Connor Knight moved the notice that the QUT Guild should oppose the undemocratic hate speech laws that were recently introduced by the ALP Government. Knight argued that the laws are a direct violation of the right to protest and free speech.
CIESJ Officer Elowyn Gampe seconded the motion
“This is an attempt to crack down on the Palestine movement and ride the wave of Islamophobia that has come out in the past few months.”
First Nations Officer Mimi Lewis and President Caleb McGiffin both spoke for the motion as well.
The motion proceeded to a vote with bipartisan agreement and passed unanimously.
QUT Guild Opposes Faculty of Science Cuts
Engineering Councillor Alex Bradbury moved the motion, with Science Councillor Connor Lowe seconding it.
“It’s really important that we take a stand that we are for education, not for profit”, said Lowe.
The motion passed unanimously.
Call the attack on the Perth invasion day rally what it was – terrorism
Engineering Councillor Alex Bradbury moved the final motion of the evening.
“I think it’s incredibly important that we condemn this and also pressure our government to condemn this.”
Observer Inara Rus seconded the motion. They condemned the media for failing to call this attack out as terrorism. They argued that the assailant was being purposefully protected by the media.
“Just because it didn’t go off doesn’t mean people won’t have lasting effects from this.”
Queer Officer Ren spoke for the motion, stating that it doesn’t matter if the bomb didn’t go off if the intent was for it to detonate.
First Nations Officer Mimi Lewis spoke for the motion.
“It is very clear to me and other Blak people who the media stands with, who the government stands with, and who the police stand with,” said Lewis.
The motion passed unanimously.
CLOSING
The Council moved through question time sans questions, the NUS report was tabled as read, and the meeting was closed by Chair Ethan Johnstone at 8:50pm.
That concludes Glass Magazine’s coverage of the first SRC meeting for 2026. See you soon Glassies xx.
