National Union of Students of Australia

The National Union of Students is the peak representational body for Australian university students. Most, but not all, students' union bodies in Australian campuses are affiliated to NUS. It represents some 700,000 university students.

Criticism

The National Union of Students has attracted criticism from both sides of politics. A common criticism from the right-wing of student politics - but also shared by many in the left - concerns alleged wastes of student funds by the organisation. National officebearers are paid for their role, and often travel around Australia visiting affiliated campuses on student-funded tours. As these cost a significant amount of money and often appear to achieve little, a growing number of students have begun to question their purpose.

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Another common criticism of the NUS concerns factionalism - the organisation is divided into at least seven factions. These have tended to be quite fractious, and splits have become common, although the two main blocs associated with the Australian Labor Party remain dominant. A "sweetheart deal" between the two factions (the National Organisation of Labor Students and Student Unity sees them share President and National General Secretary every year, giving students outside the faction little say into their representatives, and allowing people who may otherwise struggle to be elected to achieve positions of national importance.

Related Topics:
Australian Labor Party - National Organisation of Labor Students - Student Unity

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Furthermore, many on the "right-wing" of student politics have criticised the goals of the organisation itself, viewing the NUS as being overtly partisan, and opposing its decisions to fund federal political campaigns against the conservative Howard government. The Australian Liberal Students Federation in particular has a strong dislike of the NUS, and is notorious for attempting to disrupt the annual conference by singing provocative shanties and coming draped in the Australian flag.

Related Topics:
Howard - Australian Liberal Students Federation - Australian flag

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