By Glass
For those following QUT Glass’s coverage of the 2025 National Union of Students (NUS) conference, rest assured that there’s plenty to dig into. The first day began with the gathering of delegates, only to end in an abrupt failure to reach quorum. The hours that followed were a clumsy, poorly communicated effort on behalf of the NUS’s major factions to fill a growing power vacuum—a vacuum that had no concrete origin, or sign of ending. Currently, no one faction or two-faction coalition, has the majority of votes on the conference floor.
For background, the NUS’s ability to hold the conference, pass motions, or even scream at each other, is contingent on quorum. In layman’s terms, at least 50% of the delegates need to be present to vote. Factions have weaponised this framework in the past to delay motions. The most common way this manifests is through staged walkouts, which, when done at the right time, effectively force the proceedings to adjourn.
2025’s conference hit another snag when Unity—originally the NUS’s largest faction and aligned with Labor right—fractured into New South Wales Unity and Victoria Unity. Victoria Unity provided a formal notice outlining the reason for the split. They cited the use of external proxies, interference with national factional conventions, and exclusionary and obstructive conduct, as their reason for the split. The notice listed 4 resolutions:
1. Loss of Confidence in Current National Convenor
The Caucus no longer has confidence in Mr Aidan O’Rourke of New South Wales branch as National Convenor of Student Unity.
2. Election of New National Convenor
The Student Unity caucus will be meeting this evening to duly elect a new Convenor.
3. Purge of Delegates Acting Contrary to Rules and Conventions
In view of the sustained and deliberate circumvention of long-standing rules and conventions by certain members, the caucus has resolved to purge the New South Wales Branch from the membership of Student Unity.
4. Ratification of existing student unity agreements
Any agreement, understanding or commitment purportedly entered into by Mr Aidan O’Rourke on behalf of Student Unity shall not be recognised as valid or binding on Student Unity unless and until it has been expressly ratified in writing by the current leadership of Student Unity, including the new National Convenor. Pending such ratification, Student Unity does not accept any liability or obligation arising from such agreement.
Socialist Alternative (SAlt) argues that they’ve been locked out of their usual position as Education Officer, or any other executive positions. Unity, National Labor Students (NLS) and other smaller factions have agreed to stop SAlt from gaining the position which they have held for several years. SAlt has criticised the factions for barring Palestine activists from the conference floor and interfering with democracy.
Rumours of factional splits and unholy alliances have circulated throughout the day. Party insiders allege collaboration between Victoria Unity and SAlt, with the speculated end goal being to usurp Unity’s previous majority. Major infighting has seen the factional structure of the NUS collapse in on itself, with no clear idea of what alliances are solid, flexible to change, or subject to the whims of another factional division.
To further cement your faith in the current state of student unionism, Student Unity’s 2025 shirts contain a quote from Barack Obama on the back, unfortunately, the designers of the shirt spelled the former American president’s name as ‘Obarma’. We are yet to discern whether or not this was a deliberate joke.
Despite the political peacocking, Glass met with other Australian student publications to collaborate on the coverage. We would like to thank Honi Soit, The Tert, Woroni, Farrago, Lot’s Wife, and the Student Media Association (SMA) for making this standard of reporting possible.
Coverage from day two to follow.
