Australian Labor Students

The Australian Labor Students is a political faction within the National Union of Students. It is an offshoot from the National Organisation of Labor Students, based primarily within Victoria and Western Australia. Like NOLS, it is oriented towards the Left wing of the Australian Labor Party.

Related Topics:
Political faction - National Union of Students - National Organisation of Labor Students - Victoria - Western Australia - Left - Australian Labor Party

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Since splitting from NOLS in 1997, the ALS has undergone various changes of name and political alignment. They have also been known as NOLS Inc. (since they registered the name upon leaving the faction), or the NOLS Right.

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Starting from a position to the right of NOLS and to the left of Student Unity, ALS has subsequently shifted ideologically to a position that appears to be somewhat to the left of NOLS. The two factions are close ideologically but ALS remains markedly smaller and less influential.

Related Topics:
Right - Left - Student Unity

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The faction's derisive name amongst its opponents is "The Rats" - a reference to the group's alleged tendency to renege on deals, most recently being a 2003 deal with Unity, as well as the original split with NOLS.

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Some discussions have concerned a possible reunion of ALS and NOLS, but such discussions have not so far borne fruit. The most recent move towards reunification is a joint caucus to be held at the 2005 Education Conference, although there is some resistance to this within ALS.

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ALS is organised through a National Caucus, which operates through a phone-link up between the Victorian and Western Australian members. Although the National Caucus is the supreme decision making body, State caucuses meet to debate regional issues.

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ALS has in the past held the Women's and Welfare offices in NUS National Office, voting positions on the National Executive of NUS and played a dominating role in the Western Australian State Branch of NUS. The 2005 NUS Women's Officer, Alison Vaughan, is a member of ALS and National co-Convenor of the faction, along with Lindsay Rayner from La Trobe University

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