STATEMENTS BY SENATORS

Senator ALLMAN-PAYNE (Queensland) (13:45): Democracy is under attack at the University of Queensland. Student democracy is at the cornerstone of a democratic society—a society that allows for dissent, resistance and advocacy, and a society that believes in solidarity and mutual aid. The UQ Union has a storied history of these values, as an elected student organisation that fought against apartheid in South Africa decades ago and is now fighting against the genocide in Gaza.

Its student volunteers and representatives provide essential services on campus. But now the university is cracking down on its student union, moving the union onto a transition plan that gives the university inordinate control over its funding and governance. UQ is not the first Australian university to move against its union.

We've seen student associations across the country stripped of funding, sidelined from consultation or placed under university control when they've been too effective, too critical or too independent. Because of the power imbalance, the university can now deny the union the funding that it needs to seek independent legal advice. The students are being denied a voice in the treatment of their union.

But students are not taking this lying down; they are resisting. Hundreds have signed the petition to preserve their independent union, and they will be mobilising on campus for a protest on 26 August. I am a former student of the University of Queensland.

I understand the value and importance of an independent student union. UQ must immediately withdraw its application for this plan. Should it land on the Minister for Education's desk, he must reject it.

Student unions should be run by students, student money should be managed by students and independent student organisations should not be taken over by universities.