National Union of Students office-bearers will receive more information and handover training, and the organisation has created a new committee to approve purchases between $400 and $1,000.
The NUS was blindsided earlier this year when it was discovered that 2021 General Secretary Param Mahal had entered a $9,500 consultancy contract without the knowledge of the National Executive.
The 2020 General Secretary, Samuel Roberts, was also engaged as a consultant in Mahal’s new student organisation.
Both secretaries belong to Unity, the Labor-Right faction of the NUS.
The NUS confirmed last week that 50% of the misappropriated funds were returned to the union, with no further consultancy to be requested from Mahal.
The Union has now implemented new measures, changing how it manages its financial affairs.
NUS executives including the current President, General Secretary, Education Officer, and Welfare Officer, will now sit on an Executive Committee that will handle expenses between $400 and $1,000.
The NUS has also committed to distributing to all national executives detailed profit and loss reports, and to improving office-bearer handovers.
Additionally, the NUS has pledged to improve transparency by providing detailed minutes and inviting student media to attend meetings.
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