Kicking off at 6:22pm, this month’s Students’ Representative Council (SRC) meeting was in no way timely or efficient from the outset — and it would remain that way until quorum was declared ‘lost’ at 9:59pm.
On this month’s agenda were discussions around next steps for the Palestinian liberation campaign, support for the Trans Day of Visibility 2024, the role of police at Mardi Gras and solidarity with the Tiwi Traditional Owners engaged in a legal battle with Santos in the Federal Court. For these three and a half hours, Honi Soit watched on with shock, horror and some admiration for the 37 councillors gathered in New Law Lecture Theatre 026.
But before all of this fun, the meeting began with a series of resignations. Jacklyn Scanlan (NLS) resigned as General Secretary, Daniel Holland (NLS) as Refugee Officer, Annabelle Jones (NLS) and Deaglan Godwin (SAlt) as Vice Presidents, Jack Lockhart (NLS) as Environmental Officer, and Jasmine Donnelly (NLS) from the General Executive.
The resignations were triggered by an internal Labor Left (NLS) dispute which saw Jacklyn Scanlan removed from NLS, causing a broader factional reshuffle in multiple positions. Most of the members who initially resigned renominated, and were elected unopposed to their original positions. Rose Donnelly (NLS) replaced Jacklyn Scanlan as the new General Secretary.
The meeting then turned to motions, starting with Jasmine Al-Rawi (SAlt) speaking to motion P4, which called on members to debate the future of student activism for Palestine and the upcoming protest on March 15. Al Rawi called on every faction “that calls themselves left wing [to show] what they are doing to build for the movement.” Lucas Pierce (SAlt) concurred, quoting the last words of Aaron Bushnell, who recently immolated himself in protest outside the Israeli embassy in Washington, as a call to arms for students to do more to face the ongoing genocide. Ethan Floyd (Grassroots) pointed out that the University has consistently silenced pro-Palestinan activism on campus and that Indigenous-Palestinian solidarity “is stronger than it has ever been.”
Many speakers, including SRC President Harrison Brennan (Grassroots), argued that the millions of dollars worth of military aid being sent to Israel was evidence that the Australian government is directly complicit in the genocide.
SAlt speakers targeted Grassroots and NLS across the debate, arguing their activist stance was insufficient and not radical enough. In response, Holland argued that recent protests led by SAlt have created a “hostile environment for no other reason than showing your credentials.” Grassroots speakers pointed to their own leafleting in the first weeks of semester and their support bringing collectives to rallies.
In response to SAlt’s claims that the SRC should not run any other campaigns beyond those fighting for a free Palestine — an argument we heard a lot about during last month’s Council — Rav Grewal (Grassroots) called out the faction’s attempts to build for their annual Marxism Conference in recent weeks. Despite Deaglan Godwin’s (SAlt) heckles, Grewal pointed out that “campaigns can build off each other”, and that “SAlt agrees with me.” He also noted that there will only be one forum on the history of the Palestinian Left, and that it is also “in the last time slot.”
Without skipping a beat, Deaglan told councillors that “I am proud to build the Marxism conference. Student unionism in this country is in dire straits. It is in dire straits because of the politics of the Labor factions, and the politics of factions like Grassroots.”
After the P4 motion was carried, Shovan Bhattarai (SAlt) moved motion Q1: “The Higher Education Accords Have Always Been Shit.” Maddie Clark (SAlt) argued that engaging in the Accord process was not going to help further the goal of free education. “The government should spend more money helping students,” said Clark, “the Accords process is not going to help with that.” Activism on the street, Clark argued, was the only tenable path. Other SAlt speakers condemned the Accords as an inherently capitalist process.
Brennan defended the Grassroots submission to the Accords, arguing it was “actually quite radical.” Brennan then called on the government to provide free education and end sexual violence on campus. Brennan also pointed out that SAlt has refused to engage with a campaign on education this year.
Gerard Buttgieg (NLS) defended aspects of the Accord final report, saying it “made very important recommendations” such as the establishment of a National Student Ombudsman, increased Student Services and Amenities Fee (SSAF) payments, and paid placements. “If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu,” Buttigieg said.
After a ten minute break, the third motion moved, P1: “Oppose changes to the Confirmation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Identity Policy” was discussed. Floyd condemned the policy as an attack on First Nations students by making it harder for them to get the support they need while on campus. Grace Street (Grassroots) pointed out that the policy was already causing some First Nations students to lose their scholarships during a cost of living crisis.
More heckling between SAlt and Grassroots about the nature of activism consumed the room before the motion was carried without opposition.
The next motion, P2: “The SRC supports the Tiwi Traditional Owners who took on Santos in the Federal Court,” responded to a ruling in favour of Santos after the Tiwi Traditional Owners sued the mining corporation over the approval of plans to drill the Barossa gas field. Environment Officer Jordan Anderson (Grassroots) summarised the intent of the motion, “our aim must be to push for Enviro justice and First Nations justice and [be] in opposition to Santos and the Labor government.” Floyd agreed, arguing that the case proves that “fossil fuel companies are deeply embedded within our institutions.”
Buttigeg condemned those in the Labor movement who supported the Santos project calling for an “end [of] the fossil fuel industry,” and the motion was carried shortly after without opposition.
The council then discussed accessibility in student unions. Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment (SASH) Officer Olivia Lee (Unity) said it is “not controversial” and Disabilities Officer Victor Zhang (Engineers) seconded the motion, saying it aligned with the goals of the Disabilities Collective.
The conversations derailed into a fight about the events at NatCon earlier this year, with SAlt accusing NLS of conspiring with Unity to block actions on Palestine. NLS responded, blaming a “right wing” faction of Unity for the lack of action on Palestine. NLS then blamed the Victorian faction of SAlt for giving support to Unity during NatCon. The motion was then carried.
Esther Whitehead, one of the three Queer Officers, then spoke to P5: “Endorse Trans Day of Visibility.” Whitehead condemned the pinkwashing occurring in Gaza and emphatically attacked the police for their continued violence against the Queer community.
Jamie Bridge (SLA) read a submission from a queer student who raised concerns that their ability to receive gender affirming care is crushed by “needless bureaucracy that forces our identities into boxes.” Strong applause followed the speech and the motion was carried.
Queer Officer Tim Duff moved the next motion, P6: “No Cops at Pride – Disarm, Defund, Dismantle the police.” They said “it is abhorrent that the Mardi Gras board wields their corporate interests through queer issues” and pointed to recent victories like the ‘No Cops, No Bigots’ snap rally on March 1 and the tearing up of the Police Accords.
Shovan Bhattarai (SAlt) defended their amendment to the motion which called on the SRC to not engage with the Mardi Gras board or with any corporate institution. Yasmine Johnson (SAlt) said “Mardi Gras is a total farce… fucking glampol. It is a corporate party.”
Bridge defended the original wording of the motion, arguing their strategy has gotten thousands of people into the streets to fight for queer rights, “this is not about just getting enough left-wing people onto the Board… this is about building a left-wing movement.”
Anderson also spoke in favour of the original motion, questioning the pro-police narrative that is still dominant in the Australian media. They reminded the Council that “as activists, we must recognise that the police are a pro-capitalist, pro-colonial and anti-queer force.” Whitehead went on to highlight the “visibility of this campaign”, asking “are we not allowed to claim what we have left?”
Bridge’s claim that SAlt only “show up to our rallies to sell your magazines” caused the room to erupt in shouting and heckling yet again, with Maddie Clark (SAlt) attempting to settle scores by holding up an edition of her faction’s publication Red Flag — which ironically had flipped to a page advertising the aforementioned Marxism Conference. In the end, the motion passed despite SAlt’s decision to abstain from voting.
And with that, the second meeting of the 96th SRC meeting came to a close as Grassroots and NLS quickly pulled quorum. The thermostat may have read 27ºC and our eardrums may never recover, but at least we got out before midnight (the bar is impossibly low). Stay tuned for more Council next month!
