NUS NATCON: Wrap up

Glass attended the annual conference for the National Union of Students (NUS), a four day event in which motions previously put forward by various factions were voted on. The NUS is the peak representative body for higher education students, with an estimated confederation of 600 student unions from various universities in Australia. The purpose of the NUS is to fight for the rights and interests of university students by lobbying the government and participating in protests. The NUS National Conference (NATCON) provides a platform for NUS delegates to review and revise policies established in the past year. It also serves as the stage for electing the new NUS Council, which will steer the organization’s efforts in the upcoming year.

Each motion was grouped by contents into one of the following chapters:

Chapter 1: Student unionism 

Chapter 1 started with a motion for the NUS to condemn Israel’s war and invasion of various countries. Representatives from Socialist Alternative (SAlt) spoke passionately in favour of the motion, sharply criticising the Australian Labor Party (ALP) for its role in the conflict as the governing party. A Unity member and Palestinian woman stood to speak, explaining that it is the responsibility of student unions to stand against the war in Gaza. “Our own government still doesn’t call it a genocide” said an NLS member. The motion passed unanimously. 

Conflict came in the next few motions with Unity (who at this time held the majority) voting against the other factions. They voted against scrapping AUKUS, stopping militarism on campus and amended the motion on student activism to only support “peaceful protests”.

Chapter 2: Trade unionism 

The consensus was much the same as chapter 1, with each motion calling for the support of different trade unions. Opposition arose on the topic of police unions and cops in trade hall (home to the trade unions). SAlt believed no police units should be present in trade hall and supported the defunding of police unions. SAlt condemned the labor party for their role, saying Labor is no better than the Liberals. Unity opposed this, citing SAlt’s hypocrisy in supporting all unions except the police, “you do not have a right to prevent someone else from carrying out their right”, explained a Unity member. 

Chapter 3: First Nations  

Session 2 began with a campus count to determine voting majorities. Overnight, Unity, the largest faction, lost members, effectively ending their ability to pass motions unilaterally.    

Chapter 3 sparked heated debate as motions centered on First Nations issues. Delegates voted on supporting the Uluru Statement from the Heart, advocating for treaties with First Nations peoples, and condemning systemic discrimination against Aboriginal communities. Unity voted against giving land back to its original owners asking, “how do we give that land back when there is so much construction?”. They were called “disgusting” by NLS and SAlt, the motion passed with the votes from all other factions. SAlt was criticised for refusing to use the words First Nations or Aboriginal. 

Chapter 4: Education 

The key division in this chapter came from Unity’s support of HECS. While the other factions called for free higher education for all, Unity saw this as an impossible “fairytale”. One NLS member explained “I refuse to believe that today we cannot do what people before us have achieved”. Other motions included the support of student unionism, accessibility for all students, and the opposition of university budget cuts. 

Chapter 5: Disabilities:

The focus in Chapter 5 was on equitable learning opportunities for disabled students and the cuts to the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) and advocating for better mental health support. SAlt were criticised for not speaking to the motions and instead, using the podium to condemn Labor.  The NDIS was a large point of debate. Unity and the NLS voted to change the NDIS for the better saying that “in its current state the NDIS is corrupt, but we can lobby to make it better.” SAlt called for the immediate abolition of the NDIS opting for a better, publicly funded, disability support agency. 

Chapter 6: Ethnocultural

Chapter 6 returned to international issues, with discussions focusing on Israel’s actions in Gaza, specifically the treatment of Palestinians. Many motions called for the NUS to push boycotts and sanctions on Israel and support the civil liberties and political expression of citizens. Unity spoke out against antisemitism but explained that support for Palestine is not antisemitic. The chapter touched on racism, Australia’s inhumane refugee camps and its alliance with the USA. Unity spoke for the alliance and was condemned by the other factions. “It is appalling that Australia allies with this genocidal nation” said one NLS member. 

Chapter 7: Welfare 

SAlt, NLS, Forge, Groots and Windies all voted for motions on free public transport, paid placements, abolishment of junior wages, free health care, affordable housing, raining centrelinkand raising the minimum wage. Unity votes against, asking the other factions where the money would be sourced from. SAlt was criticised for condemning labor instead of speaking to the motions. Salt argued that Unity and NLS use the NUS for electioneering.  

Chapter 8: Women’s

Femicide and gender based violence were discussed in this chapter, an NLS member stated that in 2024,  97 women were murdered by men in Australia. Motions on childcare, abortion rights, the wage gap and supporting mothers in tertiary education were discussed. The factions agreed on most of this chapter. 

Chapter 9: LGBTQIA+/Queer

SAlt were criticised again for their stance on identity politics as they refused to use the full LGBTQIA+ acronym. “Racist, sexist, anti-queer, socialists are not welcome here,” a Unity member said. SAlt responded, saying that “campaigning on trivial arguments such as this pulls resources from real problems facing the queer community.” The motions consisted of condemning discrimination against the queer community and campaigning for more LGBTQIA+ support in universities. 

Chapter 10: Small and regional 

SAlt spoke against a motion on rebuilding student unions in regional Australia. Their reason for opposing the motion was that regional towns are often bastions of right wing politics. This was followed by jeers from the other factions. Unity condemned SAlt’s previous speech, saying that SAlt are individualistic and alienate most of the people they are trying to mobilise.
“You think regional towns aren’t affected but they are!’’ The NLS member said. 

Chapter 11: International 

Motions on free university education for international students, cutting visa application fees, opposing caps on international students and fair work rights for international students were debated. Again, Unity cited the cost on taxpayers as the reason for voting against free university for international students. Most other motions were passed unanimously. 

*

On the final day a ballot was held to elect the NUS council for 2025. Despite being a member QUT doesn’t have much involvement in the NUS, sending only two delegates this year. This is something that needs to change if we want to make a meaningful contribution to the union and help rebuild it from its current abysmal state. We cannot stand by inactive and complain about its misgivings. 

This article serves as an introductory summary of the NUS and its annual onference. While we’ve outlined some key discussions and debates from the event, it is by no means a comprehensive report on the conference’s proceedings.

For more detailed coverage and in-depth analysis, we encourage readers to explore the reporting by Honi Soit, the University of Sydney’s student newspaper, which offers a thorough breakdown of the motions, debates, and outcomes from NATCON.

GLASS Team
GLASS Team
Articles: 127

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