The National Union of Students was on the verge of collapse this morning after a ballot to elect key office bearers was shelved amid serious claims of vote rigging and corruption.
Irate left-wing delegates have accused their right-wing rivals of holding secret 4:30am meetings and excluding delegates based on factional loyalties at the annual University of Ballarat gabfest, which has a history of violence, drunkenness and dirty tricks.
Sources have told Crikey that while speculation over an outright dissolution may be premature, the delay in the election to elect senior office bearers meant that the organisation’s future was uncertain. They say conference affiliation has been used as a political bargaining chip over policy.
Under NUS rules, delegates from student unions around the nation are charged $725 in affiliation fees. However, Crikey understands that the deadlines for the payment of fees is in dispute, with cheques arriving on Monday ruled ineligible.
The ruling means that the affiliation of several student unions is also in serious doubt, denying them access to the wheels of power. Meetings to resolve the dispute were then held in the dead of night when representatives from opposing factions were asleep.
The NUS’ returning officer, Josh Rayner, is believed to be close to the right-wing ALP camp, known as Student Unity.
NUS President David Barrow told Crikey that the allegations were serious and he was seeking legal advice on how to proceed. Barrow refused to comment on specific allegations.
However, Crikey understands that the core of the stoush relates to a co-ordinated takeover by coalition of Liberal and right-wing Labor students to install loyalists in key positions.
The faction’s tactics are believed to be overseen by senior ALP powerbrokers who are taking the negotiations very seriously. The NUS and its predecessor, the AUS, has provided a springboard to federal politics for large slabs of the ALP front bench with Deputy PM Julia Gillard reigning supreme over the organisation in the early 1980s.
The conference has a history of rancour. Last year, two Young Liberals were arrested on a suspicion of drunk and disorderly behavior by Ballarat police after a wild late-night visit to a rival faction’s lodgings.
Delegates returned to Melbourne this morning alongside conference organiser Steve Michelson. Michelson is the former President of the Australian National University student association and current Victorian government lawyer in the Department of Human Services and is under growing pressure to resolve the fracas.
The best thing the Howard Government did was to make Student Unionism non-compulsory.
These morons learn all these pathetic dirty tricks in uni, and carry them on into further political careers, diluting the power of politics.
Just like the major political parties, these people care nothing for the general population of students and everything for their own little cliques.
The idea that major political party associations can have so much sway in these affairs is disgusting, and the NUS should dissolve, and the new system to replace it should prevent people in political parties from holding positions of power.
It’s the only way to end this cycle of bullshit, both within the NUS and the wider political spectrum.
“the affiliation of several student unions is also in serious doubt, denying them access to the wheels of power”
Muhahaha. What power? The NUS doesn’t actually, you know, do anyting. I agree with FJ. VSU was a Howard government triumph.
This article fails to acknowledge the truth about what actually happened at Conference. The NLS actually stalled the entire process. Dodgy Dave Barrow is the one who pulled the stunt.
Don’t forget the lovely Cr. Rose Jackson, NLS, who was also a co- conference organiser. Rose Jackson, a former NLS President of NUS is the daughter of a prominent ABC Journalist, Liz Jackson. You know, the one with the Walkley?
Ms. Jackson has been completely biased during the entire week.
NUS affiliation fees cost a great deal more than the sum mentioned.
Shame Crikey, for publishing such a biased article.
Shame David Barrow, for being a dodgy tool.
Shame Rose Jackson for undermining the entire conference.
Shame, shame, shame!
NLS and David did everything in their power to have conference held, the fact the majority of Unity was not informed of the illegal activities of their leaders and why that meant no ballot could occur is certainly not the fault of a distinguished councillor who even her Unity counter-part acknowledges acted with nothing but the impartiality