Welcome back to Glass’s coverage of the QUT Student Representative Council (SRC) meetings! This is our coverage of Thursday the 17th of August, with the meeting taking place at Garden’s Point O-Block, room O-303.
All current students are welcome to attend SRC meetings. If you want to see change on campus, we encourage you to put forward a motion to the SRC.
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!
Secretary and temporary Chair Samuel Hulls opened the meeting st 6:13PM. Samuel noted that the Chair resigned between this meeting and the August meeting, so they will continue to fulfill the role.
Roll call confirmed the attendance of the following:
President – Caleb McGiffin
Secretary – Samuel Hulls
Treasurer – Matthew Bloder
Welfare Officer – Isaac Oliver
Engagement Officer – Miles Hirst (Online)
Clubs and Societies Officer – Geoffrey Latz
Education Officer – Georgie Dobbs
Environment Officer – Yuanyi Tham
Postgrad Officer – Vaibhavi “V” Bisht (Online)
First Nations Officer – Mimi Lewis
Women’s Officer – Keely McConnell
Queer Officer – Lauren “Ren” Johnstone (Online)
Disability Officer – Felix Park Weir
Business & Law Faculty Councillor – Emmett Morrison
Health Faculty Councillor – Ethan Johnstone
Science Faculty Councillor – Connor Lowe
CIESJ Councillor – Elowyn Gampe
CIESJ Faculty Councillor – Lucas Gordon
The following officers were absent with apologies:
Business & Law Faculty Councillor – Elisabeth Kaptain
International Officer – Rajinder Singh
Science Faculty Councillor – Rajit Bhargava
There were no reports from any of the collectives, and the minutes from last council were confirmed by President Caleb McGiffin.
The Chair moved to the presentation of candidates for the vacant Engineering Faculty and Health Councillor positions.
Joseph Wilson, seeking to fill the Engineering Faculty Councillor position, spoke to their application:
“Engineering is one of the largest cohorts at QUT and unfortunately, due to this vacancy for a couple of months, it’s been one of the quietest in the spring. This lack of a voice has hidden from the Guild the biggest issues and the most exciting opportunities in Engineering,” they said.
“Every Engineering student I know has a dream project that they have the passion but not the opportunity to build. As an applicant for this vacancy, and a candidate for Engineering Councillor for 2027 with Progress, I’m committed to keeping an active conversation with our engineering students to advocate for these opportunities.
“If I am appointed, you will get a Councillor who is eager to build the relationships with our clubs and students to make this worth our while.”
Joseph was unanimously voted in.
Sophie Ruekers spoke to their application for the Health Faculty Councillor position:
“I’m a member of Socialist Alternative and I think that the student union should be a body that fights for political issues, along with the issues for students in particular.
“Today, I went to the Guild supported protest against Pauline Hanson and throughout this year, I’ve been to a bunch of protests that have been supported by the Guild. So, I think that if I become Health Councillor, I want to continue doing that and pushing political issues through our union.”
When moved to a vote, Treasurer Matt Bloder questioned Sophie, claiming that they failed to speak about the position and the Health Faculty.
Sophie expressed their commitment to the issue of pay for placements for health students.
Matthew conceded, and voted ‘for’ Sophie’s election, but reminded Sophie to “remember what you’re applying for,”
Sophie was unanimously elected.
MOTIONS WITH NOTICE
Commend the Digital Duty of Care
The first motion of the night was to Commend the Digital Duty of Care, moved by Kai Robinson.
The motion sought for the Guild to commend the Federal Labor Government on their implementation of further legislation for the Digital Duty of Care as a major step towards addressing the growing power imbalance between tech companies and everyday Australians.
“It has been shown that the toxic algorithms being pushed on social media have had real life consequences in how people, specifically young men, perceive society using the behaviours taught to justify disgusting actions towards women, the queer community and so many more,” Kai stated.
“So, whether they’re seeing the post or dealing with the ramifications of those buying into these toxic extremes, it is crucial now more than ever that we are acknowledging the impact and commending efforts done to stand up against big tech and toxic algorithms.”
Secretary Samuel Hulls seconded the motion, stating that algorithms are a threat to democracy.
CIESJ Councillor Elowyn Gampe spoke against the motion: “I don’t think we should actually be mobilising the Guild to actually publicly promote the Labor Party. I don’t think this is anywhere near enough and we shouldn’t be glorifying that political party who are apparently being serious champions against sexism and seriously taking on big tech.”
Engagement Officer Miles Hurst spoke for the motion, stating that the “addictive” nature of platforms and algorithms need to be tackled through features that can turn off key functions within them.
First Nations Officer Mimi Lewis contested this, claiming that the reforms are not intended to attack addiction but rather, the misogyny that is perpetrated online.
“These reforms make it so that you’re able to opt in or out and they ask for different reforms for adults versus children, which I think is insane. It says that adults need to be shielded from terrorism, while children need to be shielded from pornography. And asks it for totally different measures that fundamentally don’t attack what big tech is making off of us every single day through things like misogyny and pornography and right wing, red-pilled content.
So, I think to champion the Labor Party as this party that’s gonna stand up against big tech while also supporting AI data centres being built in Australia—I think it’s just quite blind to the reality of what the Labor Party is doing in supporting big tech every single day.
“This motion just actually doesn’t talk about what the Labor Party is doing to support big tech, and this reform doesn’t do anything to tackle mainstream media in any way,” said Lewis.
President Caleb McGiffin spoke for the motion, stating that’s a step forward in taking action for young men who are most susceptible to falling into red pill propaganda.
The motion passed.
MOTIONS WITHOUT NOTICE
Defend consent education, fight the manosphere
The first motion without notice was ‘Defend consent education, fight the manosphere’. It was moved by Education Officer Georgie Dobbs.
“The motion tonight is about saying that we need to condemn the arguments put forward by people like Canavan and Taylor that blame teachers for the manosphere, but actually these very politicians actually do normalise the manosphere by saying that it’s women’s responsibility for men’s sexist behaviour,” Georgie said.
“Not only do we need to defend consent education in our schools, but we actually need to expand it.”
Science Faculty Councillor Connor Lowe seconded the motion: “what we need to do is call out this sexism and misogyny in every institution, and that involves the QUT Guild showing solidarity.”
President Caleb McGiffin spoke for the motion, stating that the issue “shows how fast we’re delving and divulging into the right in Australia.”
Women’s Officer Keely McConnell spoke for the motion, emphasising how this is an issue that the SRC has spoken about during the last two council meetings.
The motion passed unanimously.
The QUT Guild condemns Australia’s Refusal to Sanction Israel
Moved by Science Faculty Councillor Connor Lowe, the next motion without notice was for the QUT Guild to condemn Australia’s refusal to sanction Israel.
Connor detailed the genocide against Palestinians, and the West’s “refusal” to materially address the atrocities.
“It’s prompted like these Western countries; the UK, Canada, France, to form a coalition to sanction some of these illegal settlements in the West Bank. However, shamefully, Australia has opted out of this.
“This shows a complete refusal to the safety of Palestinians basically, and just another allyship with a genocidal apartheid state,” said Lowe.
CIESJ Councillor Elowyn Gampe seconded the motion: “I think this is actually why we constantly see the Australian government backing Israel to the hilt and backing America too. It’s actually Australia trying to further their independent imperialist interests that benefit the Australian capitalist club.”
Education Officer Georgie Dobbs spoke for the motion, stating “we actually have now seen three years of a genocide. I do actually think that it is necessary to say that what we’ve seen so far from world governments, but also the Australian government is like f****** abhorrent.”
“I think there’s a real responsibility when we pass motions like this. It’s not because we’re just like constantly trying to rag on the Labor party. It’s three years of a genocide. I don’t think it’s too much to ask that they not only sanction Israel, but cut all like political, economic ties with an apartheid state.”
The motion passed unanimously.
Albanese’s response to the Nepal floods is a disgrace
The next motion was moved by Environment Officer Yuanyi Tham.
“We have to understand the reason why the Nepal floods happened in the first place. I think the response of the Albanese government serves to brush aside the very question of the climate crisis in the first place,” Yuanyi stated.
A student observer seconded the notion stating “the Labor government not wanting to talk about the climate change issue isn’t something that’s new; it’s a historic issue because Labor has constantly put forward so many mining projects and fossil fuel projects, along with AI data centres, which are obviously something that negatively affects the environment. But the Labor government just keeps on letting this stuff happen.”
Secretary Samuel Hulls moved an amendment to the motion. They moved to strike Point 2 which seeks to condemn the Albanese Labor government, and amend the title to read ‘The QUT Guild stands solid with the people of Nepal’.
“I just think this motion is false. I don’t think Albanese’s response is appalling. They’ve pledged $5 million in humanitarian aid and send a team of humanitarian response specialists to assist on the ground. He offered condolences to a country is what is an intensely difficult time,” Samuel explained.
Speaking against this amendment, Education Officer Georgie Dobbs stated “we’re not actually against humanitarian aid. We do have a personal responsibility to them, because Australia is one of the biggest climate criminals in the world, because our country is a massive polluter that digs up and ships out just billions and billions and billions of dollars of fossil fuels, and is constantly opening new coal and gas mines.”
“It’s not political point scoring when we talk about the real victims of climate change, and that it’s not political point scoring to say that it’s the responsibility of the student union to actually call out our government.”
President Caleb McGiffin spoke for the amendment:
“I feel like it would be kind of odd to immediately go into the climate, like in the wake of the tragedy. I feel like the first priority would be to show support.
“He didn’t deny climate change either. He wanted to talk about it at a later date.
“The first response should always be condolences and solidarity,” said McGiffin.
Council and faculty members went back and forth over the amendment, arguing over political point scoring, solidarity, and actual change.
First Nations Officer Mimi Lewis stated “what is economic justice if the people in Nepal are homeless, if they are swimming in floods, if they do not have food, and then we give them a couple of measly millions while being one of the richest countries in the world? I am for giving condolences but that is not what the Labor government was doing.”
The meeting discussed the difference between net zero and real zero.
The amendment failed to pass. The original motion passed unanimously.
Crisafulli’s Visit to America Shores up Imperialism
The next motion was moved by CIESJ Councillor Elowyn Gampe.
“All of this is to further the interests of the Australian ruling class. This is not good for Australian people—to have our government putting billions of dollars into expanding weapons manufacturing in QLD. We’re just merging with the American military in this absolutely disgusting act so that Australia’s rich people can get richer,” Elowyn stated.
The motion was seconded by Education Officer Georgie Dobbs: “drawing in the United States into our backyard is a seriously bad idea. They’re famously one of the most dangerous, aggressive countries in the world,” Georgie said.
A student observer interrupted, stating that it was their first time attending an SRC meeting, and asked what the purpose of the SRC is. Treasurer Mathew Bloder agreed, stating he’s been asking that question all year.
Education Officer Georgie Dobbs explains the role of the SRC as a representative body, and that the SRC meetings are an opportunity to have debates about what affects students. Georgie does note that their faction, Socialist Alternative (SAlt), thinks the meetings should be more than “just bureaucratic meetings.”
Treasurer Matt Bloder asked, “so not actually about life on campus?” to which the SAlt caucus disagreed.
President Caleb McGiffin stated “the SRC, the monthly meetings, operate definitely much more as a political space. So, the Guild really is that all-encompassing organisation and then the SRC is that political branch of the organisation. And it’s our opportunity to, especially how we use it, is sort of representing students at QUT.
“You would notice more tangible effects from the other parts of the Guild, but you know, it’s an all-encompassing organisation. So, it all works together in unison.”
The Women’s and Disability Officers, attending online, state that politics deeply affect students and their lives.
Environment Officer Yuanyi Tham explained the significance of the motion to the student: “the question of imperialism is actually deeply, deeply important to students and young people today, because basically what we’re seeing throughout just like the whole of like Australian society is that this push towards militarization and war is having real tangible effects in the higher education sector.”
Treasurer Matt Bloder spoke to the student stating “none of this is unique, special, or QUT-specific. You could get the exact same information by listening to a political podcast. Take your pick.”
Others spoke to the importance of discussing global issues, even if they don’t directly relate to QUT students.
The room collectively agreed to move this conversation to question time at the end of the meeting. The motion passed.
Stand with striking staff
Education Officer Georgie Dobbs moved the next motion, calling for the Guild to stand in solidarity with striking NTEU workers on September 30.
President Caleb McGiffin seconded the motion: “the NTEU staff’s working conditions are our learning conditions, and students at QUT deserve better learning conditions by getting better working conditions for their staff.”
CIESJ Councillor Elowyn Gampe spoke for the motion, stating the significance of not only improving student and staff learning conditions but union rights.
Speaking for the motion, Welfare Officer Isaac Oliver stated “everyone deserves fair work, equitable work, and a condition and environment where everyone feels like they can exist and feel comfortable to go learn here. So, I think that I definitely believe that students should be more aware of this, teachers should also be aware of this, and that we hope to see a big turnout for our QUT staff,”
The motion passed unanimously.
Question Time
The Chair moved to question time. There were no questions with notice.
First Nations Officer Mimi Lewis requested justification from Treasurer Matt Bloder for the sudden and unconsulted cancellation of their SSAF application for a Strike Against Pauline Hanson protest banner. This banner was for a protest supported by the SRC.
Mimi claimed that Matt’s refusal was because it was outside the scope of student debate and asked how real-world issues that students face does not count.
Matt Bloder stated that a member of the GPS and three members of the SRC were consulted and reiterated that some SRC motions “aren’t doing anything about QUT. We’re not exactly using the leverage that we have to the best of our ability by focussing on things so far away that we don’t have a tangible way to drive change.”
“The Guild can support it, but SSAF can’t be used to purchase it. Supporting a political party or anything politically orientated in any way, shape or form—SSAF cannot be used to that extent,” Matt stated.
Mimi responded that student debate is within itself political by nature.
CIESJ Councillor Elowyn Gampe clarified that supporting a protest against racism is within the SSAF rules and the Guild can spend SSAF to support political positions but not a political party.
The treasurer stated that because Pauline Hanson is a spokesperson for One Nation, protesting against her “makes it a political thing”.
Education Officer Georgie Dobbs stated, “I think it was an act of political censorship that the Treasurer has chosen not to take this to the SSAF committee properly.”
“I think he actually does have a problem with the Guild using its funding for political activism. I think he’s kind of made that clear tonight, why he doesn’t understand that the union should take political questions seriously.”
Treasurer Matt Bloder responded, stating that their act was grounded because Hanson is running for election, and that guidelines state SSAF cannot be spent on political purposes.
Elowyn clarified that there is no current election which Hanson is running for.
Others attempting online cite the legislation stating that SSAF funding can be used to support debating by students, but not against.
Health Councillor Ethan Johnstone asked the Treasurer why the SSAF committee was not consulted to which Matt claimed they were.
Guild Queer Officer Ren Johnstone, a member of the SSAF committee, claimed that they were not consulted. Matt stated that they already had the majority and did not see Ren or other members in office.
Ren Johnstone stated “had you taken it to the SSAF, we would have had this discussion in the SAF committee where we would have explained that we believed that you were misinterpreting the legislation. At the end of the day, the legislation, the way that you have interpreted it is not what the legislation says.”
Mimi and Matt discuss the Treasurer’s fiscal responsibility and ability to consult with all members of the SSAF committee before making decisions.
President Caleb McGiffin stated that they had discussed with the Treasurer that a bid not compliant SSAF criteria is up to the Treasurer’s discretion.
Education Officer Georgie Dobbs ended the discussion by stating “I don’t think it’s like your responsibility and job to just determine what office bearers should be able to do with their portfolios.
“This kind of precedent can’t be a thing that continues in the union, like necessarily long term. So just as a reminder for next time that the union wants to support like political actions such as these; our position is that putting money towards that kind of stuff is a good thing.”
Secretary and temporary Chair Samuel Hulls tabled the conversation.
Welfare Officer Isaac Oliver asked for an update on election regulations.
President Caleb McGiffin stated that the regulations are to be sent to the Board who will provide feedback.
Closing
With no further questions, Secretary Samuel Hulls closed the meeting at 7:59PM.
The next meeting will take place on the 22nd of October at QUT’s Kelvin Grove Campus.
See you next time Glassies xoxo
