The National Union of Students (NUS) conference, day four, started with a dark omen—the RO, who ran the executive ballot, had been in a minor car accident travelling to Federation Uni. Because of this development, the ballot —initially scheduled for that morning—was pushed back to the afternoon. NatCon adjusted to this news with a trademark lack of urgency, and conference did not continue in the interim. With a mountain of legislation to get through and voting for executive positions yet to occur, day four hit quorum at 2:11pm.
Shortly before conference began, one of Unity’s delegates approached student media—signalling out the publication Farrago. In an attempt at faux exasperation, the delegate proceeded to ask why they hadn’t referred to Bizcom as “Big Chungus” in their NUS coverage. When told, he asked “Why not? It was funnnyyy!”, before sheepishly wandering back to his faction.
When conference started at 2:40pm, over 300 motions remained. It began with an urgency motion to advocate for mandatory student unionism. A Student Left delegate spoke in favour of the motion, mistakenly thinking it was a motion on wiping student debt. SAlt (Socialist Alternative) spoke for the actual motion. They argued that all the factions agreed with the motion but were instead arguing about the best way to enact it. The motion passed unanimously.
Chapter 4: Education (cont. from day three)
The first contentious motion was 4.48, The People’s Inquiry into Campus Free Speech on Palestine. An amendment was proposed, to strike the words ‘on Palestine’ from the motion; SAlt spoke strongly against the amendment and condemned other factions for not speaking out as well. The amendment carried with SAlt voting against.
An announcement was made at 3:27pm, that the ballot room would be open from 3:30pm to 6:30pm. Event organisers tried to buy time by running both the conference and ballot simultaneously; however, due to factional shenanigans, delegates were not allowed into the balloting room until later in the evening.
Motion 4.58, Paid Prac for All, was moved by Unity and amended by the Labor left factions. SAlt then spoke against the amended motion, criticising the Labor government for how paid prac is currently handled. A regional Unity delegate argued that paid prac is good for the regions, as regional placements contributed to their economies, tourism, and culture, and finished their speech by asserting that if you’re not regional, you don’t get a say.
Chapter 11: Ethnocultural
Chapter 11 began with the monster bloc. The bloc comprised 26 individual motions; the chairperson briefly turned to look at it, before having to stifle a laugh. Everyone in the room—bar SAlt—looked pleased. A procedural was carried to change the chair, and the new one muttered a barely audible “holy shit” when faced with the enormity of the bloc.
The Windies (Western Australia Independents) moved the bloc and highlighted a few specific motions they found to be particularly strong. The Student Left seconded the motion, as a Vietnamese-born delegate emphasised their different lived experience; they spoke specifically to motion 11.12, Name and Pronunciation Recognition Policy, stating that having your name said correctly is important not just for general well-being, but safety as well.
SAlt spoke against the bloc and countered with “It’s important that we talk about how the Labor government locks up refugees and throws away the key.” However, the bloc passed unanimously.
The second half of Chapter 11 was voted through as a second ginormous bloc and moved by the Student Left. The mover spoke about the racism she endures as an Indian woman in Australia. Unity seconded the bloc, saying that it’s important we fight against racism, especially on campus.
SAlt spoke against, arguing that “The idea that migrants are acceptable as long as they power the economy is reprehensible.” Student Left then spoke to motion 11.16, Nazism and the Rise of the Far-Right, highlighting how Labor and Liberal governments—alongside a conservative monopoly on media—have created a rising white-nationalist movement in Australia, and that we need a united front against racism.
A few amendments to the bloc were proposed. Despite pushback, the amendments were voted through, and the amended bloc passed. SAlt abstained from the vote.
SAlt dug their heels on Motion 11.34, Condemn Labor’s Complicity in the Gaza Genocide, disavowing the Labor party for championing Trump’s plan for peace in Gaza. The chair—assuming enough speakers had been heard—called for a vote while the SAlt whip (factional enforcer) argued a point of order with the Secretariat. The motion passed without SAlt’s vote—and was just as promptly rescinded as the final SAlt delegate was allowed to speak. The re-vote carried, with only Unity opposing.
The factions aligned on motion 11.42, ‘Adult Time for Violent Crime’ Laws are a Racist Disgrace. SAlt kicked off, stating “the Victorian Labor government have instituted draconian, racist laws.” Concurrent speakers from every faction, bar Unity, condemned and shamed the laws. The motion carried unanimously.
As quickly as they united, they fell apart again on motion 11.43, Migrants are welcome, racists are not. The SAlt mover and seconder spoke on a failed amendment that happened just before the motion; a delegate from the crowd yelled “read the motion, Josh!” The speaker for the motion, another SAlt delegate, posited that the factions fundamentally disagree on what an anti-racist stance looks like, and their final speaker declared that “The whole theme of the conference is that SAlt has had to teach Labor Left to be a left-wing party.” The motion carried, with only Unity opposing.
An announcement was made that the conference would continue, while all non-delegates were sent off to have dinner. As we ate, the women’s chapter was voted through en bloc. Yes, the whole thing.
Conclusion
After dinner, Media returned to the chant of “Rats!” from NSW Unity. Speeches for the NUS’s executive positions were underway, and roughly 24,000 ballots were printed for the ballot. Member for NSWLS, Jasmine O’Donnelly, attempted to provide a recap of the event; O’Donnelly’s denouncement and general admonishing of the 2025 conference was met with a heavy wave of booing from SAlt. The member for NSWLS promptly took a seat as it became clear the momentum wasn’t shifting anytime soon. Some of the Unity delegates who’d been voted into executive positions refused to provide speeches—much to SAlt’s glee.
Socialist Alternative took the floor after their efforts to bulldoze opposing speakers proved successful. Elected Education Officer, Yasmine Johnson, launched into a tirade aimed straight for the throat of the NUS itself. An impassioned Johnson claimed that SAlt were the only faction within the Union meaningfully advancing a progressive agenda, citing their fundamental role in galvanising student bodies across Australia into supporting Palestinian liberation—a primary example being the NUS-led NSRP (National Student Referendum on Palestine), which was part of a larger, nationwide week of action.
SAlt, satisfied that their point had been made, proceeded to depart the hall. In response, the remainder of the congregation began to scream “SHAME!”. SAlt broke into a chorus of “FROM THE RIVER TO THE SEA PALESTINE WILL BE FREE!” One of their members remained behind to film the exodus, before promptly being apprehended by security (for violating the no filming rule); the Labor factions cackled and sneered in acknowledgement.
With the room split between empty seats, the remaining Labor factions, and a smattering of independents; an outgoing 2025 executive took the floor. “Well, I hope you all get very drunk tonight,” echoed through the half-empty hall. The remaining delegates cheered and began to celebrate. NUS NatCon had officially closed, while hundreds of motions remained unaccounted for. “Solidarity Forever” was queued on the conference speakers, and in what should probably qualify as some sort of cruel joke, the delegates began to sing along. The NUS remained fundamentally broken, and the delegates continued to disregard their responsibility to the student bodies they are elected to represent. However, if the enthusiasm with which they drank, sang, played cricket, and partied long into the night was your only insight into NatCon 2025…. you wouldn’t be blamed for thinking it went pretty well.
