Student Meeting Ambushed by Act on Campus

ACT on Campus yesterday ambushed a meeting of the Victoria University of Wellington Students’ Association (VUWSA) Student Representative Council (SRC) meeting, to further their ideological push against Students’ Associations.

Act on Campus then moved to remove the speaking rights of anyone who did not agree with them and pushed their motion without any debate, showing flagrant and hypocritical disregard for freedom of speech.

Fortunately, ACT on Campus was unable to get their motion passed by the SRC, as the Association solicitor has declared the motion void and unconstitutional.

“Students of Victoria University deserve to have a fair, informed and balanced debate, not an ambush led by the ACT Party” said VicLabour Vice-President Kurt Sharpe.

“If students have the chance to debate this issue properly then I am confident they will support Universal Membership. VicLabour believes that Universal Student Membership is the best way of ensuring that students have access to the services they require whilst studying.”

“The last referendum saw more than half the student population turnout and an 80% vote in favour of universal student membership”

“The evidence from Australia is that so-called “voluntary membership” is disastrous to student services, and student engagement in campus life.”

“VicLabour cannot fathom why the ACT Party would prefer students being levied five times the amount by the University without having any control over its use, rather than an organisation that they do have control over.”

“VicLabour calls on the National Party to treat this issue as what it is: an ideological fringe issue, and focus on the real issues facing students in this economic climate” concluded Sharpe