MOTIONS › Higher Education: Student Services and Amenities Fee
Senator McGRATH (Queensland—Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) (15:44): I seek leave to make a short statement. The PRESIDENT: Leave is granted for one minute, Senator McGrath. Senator McGRATH: Thank you. The coalition strongly opposed Labor's repeal of the voluntary student unionism laws passed under the Howard government. For many Liberals and conservatives, guaranteeing students the basic right to freely associate and not be forced to join or contribute funds to a student union has been a lifelong principle. The government will support part (a). However, part (b) does not reflect the key principle of ensuring freedom of association for all students at all times. It creates an illusion of voluntary student unionism through the use of campus- or institution-wide ballots. Compelling all students to join and fund an organisation by a ballot of their peers is just as illegitimate on campus as if it happened in a workplace or anywhere else in our community. As such, I ask that the question on part (a) be put separately from the question on part (b). The PRESIDENT: In that case, I will comply with that request. Under general business notice of motion No. 514, we will first of all consider the question of part (a). The question is that part (a) of notice of motion No. 514 be agreed to. S enator Wi lliams did not vote, to compensate for the vacancy caused by the resignation of Senator Ludlam. S enator Smith did not vote, to compensate for the vacancy caused by the resignation of Senator Waters .