University of Queensland Union explained

University of Queensland Union
Leader1:Angus McRae
Leader2:Alex Smock
Leader3:TJ Polataivao-Reupena
Leader1 Type:President
Party1:Reform
Election1:2024
Leader2 Type:Union Secretary
Party2:Reform
Election2:2024
Leader3 Type:Treasurer
Party3:Reform
Election3:2024
Leader4 Type:General Secretary
Party4:NLS
Election4:1 December 2022
Leader5 Type:General Secretary
Party5:Grassroots
Election5:1 December 2022
Political Groups1:
Term Length:1 year
Members:23
Location Country:Australia
Affiliation:University of QueenslandNational Union of Students (Australia)
Headquarters:Union Building (Building 21A), University of Queensland

The University of Queensland Union (UQ Union) is a student organisation established to provide service, support and representation to the students of The University of Queensland. The Union oversees approximately $15 million in revenue each financial year.

Student services

The UQU operates most of the campus's student eateries, cafes, bookshops in addition to the university bar and cinema. These facilities and services are concentrated at the Union Complex at the St Lucia campus.

The UQU organises the university's orientation week ("O-Week") activities, regular barbecues and free bands, as well as a range of larger events, such as Cultural Fiesta and, as of 2016, the annual Neon Party (previously the Toga Party from 2009–16). Recently the UQU introduced a club funding scheme that supports over 200 clubs and societies, including faculty, ethnic, and a variety of social groups; sporting groups, however, fall under the domain of UQ Sport. The UQU also provides a free legal service to university students. In addition, it also organises the weekly Wednesday markets at the St Lucia campus.

One of the other roles of the UQU is to see that minority groups on campus are adequately supported. To this extent, it provides Queer Spaces and Women's Spaces at St Lucia campus and Gatton campuses, and a Disabilities Collective Space at the St Lucia Campus. UQU has queer, women's, environment, disabilities and Indigenous collectives to represent their respective interests. UQU operates Queer, Women's, Environment, Disabilities, Indigenous, International Student, Postgraduate, and Student Rights departments to work with collectives and students directly on advocacy and wellbeing campaigns.

Clubs and societies

The UQU oversees over 220 student run Clubs and Societies,[1] with a combined membership across these clubs of approximately 36,000 students. Clubs fall under one of four broad categories based on where they derive their membership base. These categories include: Faculty/School; International Students; Colleges; and General Interest.

Clubs play a vital role on campus, with the majority of social events at UQ being run by these student groups.

Student publications

Semper Floreat (Latin: "May it always flourish") is the student newspaper of the University of Queensland. It has been published continuously by the University of Queensland Union (UQU) since 1932, when it began as a fortnightly newsletter of only a few pages, produced by one editor. It was previously published as Queensland University Magazine and Galmahra.[2] The Student Union also published a Songbook for Commemoration celebrations, featuring songs celebrating the Faculties and Professors of the time. The Songbook went by a number of names, including Whack-Ho.[3] By the 1960s songs were omitted from the publication, replaced by articles and cartoons reflecting student culture of the time.

Executives

Each year, the students of the University of Queensland optionally participate in electing a student executive to the UQ Union, these elections have been occurring since the inception of the union in the 1910's and provide students with a say in who runs the peak student representative body for all campuses. The UQU executive have predominantly been run by groups of students aligned with the major political parties of Australia and their historical predecessors. For much of the Union's history voting was done for individual positions not group tickets, in some years, such as 2003, this resulted in the President being from a Labor Left ticket and the Secretary and Treasurer from a Liberal ticket.

Presidents

YearPresidentSecretaryTreasurerParty
1981 David Barbagallo Fiona McKenna Nigel Pennington   Labor Right
1982 Ken Macpherson Fleur Kingham Nigel Pennington   Labor Right
1983 Fleur Kingham Danielle Bond   Labor Left/Labor Right
1984 Tony Kynaston Ric Moore Karen Axford   Labor Left/Labor Right
1985 Brad Bauman Kate Greenwood Tony Kynaston   Liberal/Labor Right
1986 Jillann Farmer Jenny Fox Mark Herbert   Labor Right
1987 Andrew Lamb Jorge Jorquera Scott Barclay   Independents/Left
1988 Dirk Moses Robyn Finken/ Andrea Napier Mark Bahnisch   Labor Right
1989 Victoria Brazil James Jarvis Julian Sheezel   National/Liberal
1990 Jane Lye Kirsten Greathead Rebecca Keys   Reform/Labor Right
1991 James Gifford John Briggs Donna Sinopoli   Liberal
1992 Michael Kleinschmidt Anne-Marie Valentak Marcus Clark  
1993 Sandy Brown Daniel Varghese Martin Bush   SEA
1994 Mary Thorpe   Focus (Labor Left)
1995 Maya Stuart-Fox Timothy Ward Michael Caldwell   Labor
1996 Jody Thompson Luke Myers Michael Barry  
1997 Cynthia Kennedy Anna Straton Jamie Dawson   Labor Left
1998 Bede Nicholson Katie Connolly David McElrea   Labor Left
1999 Matthew Carter Alissa Macoun Benjamin Turnbull   Labor Left
2000 Sarah McBratney Matthew Collins Rebecca Lang   Labor Left
2001 Juliana Virine Angela Setterlund Adam Kent   Labor Left
2002 Christopher Vernon Aaron Meadows   NLS
2003 Aaron Marsham Antonio Ferreira-Jardim Jemma MacGinley   NLS/Liberal
2004 Margot Balch Jonathan Hames Michael Wright   Vision (NLS)
2005 Leah Sanderson Jorn Herrmann Alex Main   Focus (NLS)
2006 Lucinda Weber Erin Fentiman Christopher Knowles   Thrive (NLS)
2007 Julie-Ann CampbellDiana Mackay N/A   Voice (NLS)
2008 Josh Young Lisa Colyer Ben Riley   Fresh (Liberal)
2009 Brandon Carter Luke Walker Lisa Colyer   Fresh (Liberal)
2010 Michael Zivcic Michelle Delport Robert Hilmer   Fresh (LNP)
2011 Benjamin Gorrie Brodie Thompson Hannah Bona   Fresh (LNP)
2012 Colin Finke Brodie Thompson Linda Cho   Fresh (LNP)
2013 Rohan Watt Kieran Shaw Priyanka Luecke   Fresh (LNP)
2014 Joshua Millroy Ines Paterson Nathan Johnston   Reform (NLS/Labor Right)
2015 Kathryn Cramp Matthew Hales Tom O'Connor   Reform (NLS/Labor Right)
2016 Michael Lucas Gabii Starr Nora Abdalla   Reform (NLS/Labor Right)
2017 Gabii Starr Finbar Fuller Joshua Roser   Reform (NLS/Labor Right)
2018Jeremy Lwin Kelsie McArthur Samuel Ngugi   Focus (Labor Right/LNP)
2019Georgia Millroy Ethan Van Roo Douglas Nathan Kerr   Focus (Labor Right/LNP)
2020Ethan Van Roo Douglas Rebekah Thornton Tom Landy   REAL (LNP)
2021Emily Scott Ryan Jover Lisa Pham   Rebuild (NLS/Labor Right)
2022Emily Searle Cara Rowe Radhika Peddibhotla   Rebuild (NLS/Labor Right)
2023Richard Lee Greta Simpson Joshua Marsh   Rebuild (NLS/Labor Right)
2024Angus McRae Alex Smock Tuifa'asisina Tapenaga Reupena Polataivao-Fatialofa II   Reform (NLS/Global Mates)

Vice Presidents

YearVP Student Rights VP Campus CultureVP Gender and Sexuality Party
2009 Robert Hilmer & Aurelia Connelly Matthew Chadwick & Sam Bool Rachel Brimblecombe & Nick Sowden   Fresh (Liberal)
2010 Brayden Soo & Rory Broadbridge Alexander Tate & Alisha Musil Laney McLaren & Christopher Balean   Fresh (LNP)
2011 Michelle Delport & Isaac Robertson Nelson Martoo & Kiran Srinivasan Natalie Keys & Duncan Stubbs   Fresh (LNP)
2012 Bridget Young & Kieran Shaw Abby Nydam & Nathan Flett Ashleigh Ross & Rohan Watt   Fresh (LNP)
2013 Elliot Johnson & Harrison Bolt Jonathan Hair & Jared Peut Eloise Shaw & Anthony Deacon   Fresh (LNP)
2014 Laura Howden & Richard Lee Stephen Kakoniktis & Natalie Morris Kathryn Cramp & Lotte Scheel   Reform (NLS/Labor Right)
2015 Isabel Manfield & Shannon Fogarty Daren Tan & Gabby Menolotto Amy Jelacic & Annie Danks   Reform (NLS/Labor Right)
2016 Olivia Amsden & Riley Williamson Ange Ou & Thomas Parer Madeline Price & Emil Cañita   Reform (NLS/Labor Right)
2017 Emily Earle & Domenico Sottile Alynna Wong & Prianka Thomas Sabina Rooney & William Triste   Reform (NLS/Labor Right)
2018 Paul Taylor & Zachariah Schafferius Sangwon 'Jimmy' Jin & Paige Howard Kulkarawa Kukoyi & Nicholas Comino   Focus (Labor Right/LNP)
2019 Kaiyin Wu & Isabella Scattini Tom Landy & Rebekah Thornton Amy Sienkiewicz-Grob   Focus (Labor Right/LNP)
2020 Gustavo Pazo & Brodie Fennell Lili Wackwitz & Annabel Genest Emily Coggan & Dakota Titmus   REAL (LNP)
2021Josie Vu & Liam Heseltine Benjamin Kozij & Kurt Tucker Emily Searle & Elias Blanch   Rebuild (NLS/Labor Right/LNP)
2022Samara Paradine & Jake Coleman Rheanna Norris & Justin Chen Greta Simpson & Marisha Robinson   Rebuild (NLS/Labor Right)
2023Ryley Calvert & Angus McRae TJ Polataivao-Reupena & Shivram Shipankar Erin Blyth & Daniel Chancellor   Rebuild (NLS/Labor Right/Global Mates)
2024Jeryn Chang & Jordy Duffey Jaafar Jabur & Sam Lee Skye Taylor & Amrita Kaur   Reform (NLS/Global Mates)

Student Collectives

Representing minority, special interest and other community groups on campus, UQU’s collectives serve as advocacy and social organisations for students. The collectives are managed by student elected committees.

Association of Postgraduate Students (APS)

In 2011, UQ postgraduate students formed a postgraduate collective within the UQU, called the UQU Association of Postgraduate Students (APS). This new body has been in regular contact with The Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations (CAPA) and sent a representative to the 2011 CAPA annual conference in Sydney. APS caters to the needs of over 13,000 postgraduate students at the University of Queensland.[4] It aims to create a platform for all postgraduate students to engage socially and professionally with students from other schools, faculties, nationalities, cultures and general interests. All Postgraduate students at UQ are automatically members of the Association.

APS Presidents

YearPresident(s) Party
2014 Amanda Acutt   Reform (NLS/Labor Right)
2015 Aleen Kujur   Reform (NLS/Labor Right)
2016 Anna Safonova   Reform (NLS/Labor Right)
2017 Partha Narayan Mishra & Gustavo Chamusca de Azevedo   Reform (NLS/Labor Right)
2018 Elif Kaya   Focus (Labor Right/LNP)
2019 Selene Cannelli   Focus (Labor Right/LNP)
2020 Christian Rizzalli  Student Action
2021 Richard Lee & Betty Lin   Rebuild (NLS/Labor Right)
2022 William Triste   Global Mates
2023 Saumya Jain & Jeryn Chang   Global Mates

Disability Collective

The Disability Collective is a peer support and advocacy group for students who identify as having a disability, chronic illness or mental health condition. The collective has rooms on campus as well as online communities which provide safe spaces for students to ask questions, connect with others, and access support and advocacy. The collective works with the university administration and teaching staff, and UQ’s Disability, Diversity and Inclusion Advisors (DDIA), to advocate for students, refer students to appropriate support services, and help students navigate life at university. All students who identify as someone who experience disability, chronic illness, mental illness, neurodiversity or deafness can automatically become a member of the collective.

Environment Collective

The Environment collective is a group of environmentalist students. It offers a platform to share ideas and contribute to UQU policy and encourage sustainable practices on campus, promoting greater awareness of, and increasing students’ interaction with Queensland’s native flora and fauna. The Environment Collective hosts a range of events throughout the year. All UQ students are open to become automatic members of the collective.

Goorie Berrimpa

Goorie Berrimpa meaning "Meeting Place" in the Turrbal language, is a UQU collective representing Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students at the University of Queensland. Goorie as the collective is commonly known by, aims to provide a sense of belonging for all Indigenous students studying at the University of Queensland and bring culture and education together. Goorie Berrimpa holds a number of events throughout the year including the annual NAIDOC Ball with guest speakers and performers; as well as NITESG (National Indigenous Tertiary Education Student Games) as well as beginning and ending Semester Socials. All UQ Students who identify as Indigenous or Torres Strait Islander have access to automatic membership to the collective.

International Collective

The UQU International Students Collective is a student collective within UQU, and is open to all international students and anyone interested in cultural diversity. The collective provides guidance and support for international students and advocates on behalf of international students to the University of Queensland. All international students as well as any UQ students interested in cultural diversity have access to automatic membership.

Year International Officer(s) Party
2016 Barani Ganapathi & Chao Chen   Reform (NLS/Labor Right)
2017 Barani Ganapathi & Wanwan Guo   Reform (NLS/Labor Right)
2018 NA
2019 Tiantian Zhao &YunYing Su   International Students Assembly
2020 Sai Wai Yan   Empower
2021 Shirley Mo & Allen Ding   Rebuild (NLS/Labor Right)
2022 Sumiko Myo & Anna Li   Rebuild (NLS/Labor Right)
2023 Rita Zou & Sandra Haya   Global Mates
2024 Hanshuo Zhang & Anshul Phaugat   Global Mates

Queer Collective

The UQU Queer Collective (UQU QC) is a community group at the University of Queensland for members of the UQ LGBTQIA+ community. The UQU Queer Collective runs regular events and advocacy campaigns. All members of the UQ community who identify as queer and/or LGBTQIA+ are automatic members of the Queer Collective.

Women's Collective

The UQU Women’s Collective (UQU WC) is a women's group on the University of Queensland campus. The purpose of the Women’s Collective is to represent and advocate for women on campus through a range of events and campaigns. The UQU Women’s Collective aims to engage people with each other as feminists and feminist theory as a whole, run events and to raise consciousness and meets regularly to discuss feminist affairs. In addition, the Women’s collective regularly hosts events such as the annual International Women’s Day Breakfast, small social events, and networking opportunities and run campaigns to engage students on campus and educate people in regards to current feminist issues. All UQ Students who identify as women or non-binary have automatic membership to the collective.

Politics

1960s

In 1965, women students from the University of Queensland chained themselves to the bar of Treasury and Regatta hotel to protest against sex discrimination

In 1966, the Vietnam Action Committee formed as a University-based Civil Liberties and Vietnam-oriented action group. At a footpath protest in March against the Vietnam War, 31 were arrested. Students later hosted a conference on South-East Asia at UQ organised by off-campus peace groups.

In May 1967, the Union’s Civil Liberties Coordinating Committee formed to fight restrictive sections of the Traffic Act. In June, the CLCC gave the government an ultimatum with a deadline of 11 July for sections of the Traffic Act to be repealed, but in July, the deadline was extended to 5 September, mainly due to negotiations the Student Union President and State Government.

On 4 September, Premier Frank Nicklin promised a decision on the ultimatum. A rally and march on this issue was postponed to 8 September. The Nicklin Government made an offer on the 7th, but it was found unsatisfactory. The following day, 4,000 people marched to the city. 2,000 of them sat down in Roma Street. 114 were arrested with police violence.

A demonstration was called by the Trades and Labour Council of Queensland to protest against police treatment of university students and staff in Roma Street, Brisbane during 8 September protest march.

1970s

On 4 September 1977 Joh Bjelke-Petersen, the Premier of Queensland announced that "the day of the political street march is over. Anybody who holds a street march, spontaneous or otherwise, will know that they are acting illegally. Don’t bother to apply for a permit you won’t get one. That's Government policy now."

On 12 September 1977, the UQ Union marched on campus and was stopped at the gates of the University by 300 Queensland police officers. Some students walked along the footpath to a rally of 5,000 workers on Trade Union Rights. Wharf workers marched to the rally in Roma Street forum.

This was followed by a march on 22 September, which went off campus and regathered in King George Square. In total, seven people were arrested, including the Australian Union of Students’ representative at UQ. All but one of these had been attending meetings at the University of Queensland of the newly formed group to fight the ban. By that last arrest, 20 people had been arrested on the King George Square steps. Another 12 were arrested later at parliament house.

The women arrested were strip-searched in the watchhouse that night in the presence of male police. Maris, a young student and member of the CLCC, organised a defence for all the arrested people in the courts and a few were acquitted. This was the beginning of 3,000 arrests of 2,000 people (some were arrested on several occasions) and court appearances which would continue unabated for 2 years – every time there was a political street march.

From 4 September 1977 to July 1979 2,000 people were arrested, there were 3,000 arrests with the largest of 418 people being arrested in a single afternoon of 22 October 1977.

Establishment of Women's Collective

In 1977, the UQ Union, was the first student union in the country to appoint a part time paid Women’s Rights Organiser. An early campaign sought to get the Student Union to adopt policy supporting women’s abortion rights. A student referendum on the issue was unsuccessful at that time, though later the Union would adopt a pro-choice stance.

A campaign about women's safety on campus raised awareness of the prevalence of sexual assault and rape on campus – it was some years, however, before the university responded. The Women's Rights Committee also campaigned against sexual harassment of students by some academic and teaching staff. They campaigned successfully for the withdrawal of student union funding for a student club that printed a newsletter that incited violence against women and girls. They successfully called for the reinstatement by the Student Union of a woman cleaner who had been fired without sufficient reason.

"When the Women's Rights Room became too small for their meetings, the women asked the Union for a larger room. The request was refused so the women and a couple of supporters, occupied the room and moved the furniture."[5]

1990s to 2013

1991–1992, the Union was run under the umbrella of the Liberal (or Young Liberal) party.

1994–2007, the Union was almost exclusively under the control of parties aligned with the Labor party, usually the left leaning wing. Liberal students regained full control for a single year in 1996 and won a majority of the split executive in 2003.

2008–2013, the Union was run by a party under the banner "Fresh" (Liberal National Party of Qld). During this time, UQU ends its accreditation with the National Union of Students, making it the first student association in the Group of Eight universities to have done so.

2014 to Present (Post-Fresh Era)

2014–2017, the Union was run by Reform (a coalition of Labor's left and right factions), during which significant opposition came from Lift (independents) and Thrive (LNP).[6]

On 14 September 2017, after intense divisions between Labor's Left and Right factions, the Reform ticket announced their disbanding.[7] The Labor Right faction formed a separate, independent coalition supported by a faction of Young Liberals, as well as some Greens and Independent students, to contest the elections under a new ticket named Focus. The Labor Left faction attempted to continue as 'Reform', however, they failed to lodge their nominations correctly. Owing to some administrative errors, Reform's Union Council ticket did not appear above the line.

After the errors made during the nomination process, the Reform ticket announced on Facebook that they intended to withdraw from the contesting the 2017 Student Union Elections. In the same post, they endorsed the Socialist Alternative ticket 'Student Action'.[8] The 'Reform' ticket remained on the ballot papers for the Union Executive and the Union Newspaper, but the ticket did not run a ground campaign during the elections. The newly formed 'Focus' ticket was elected in a landslide.[9]

In 2018, the Labor Left faction re-formed as 'Momentum'.[10]

A referendum was planned to be held simultaneously with the 2018 election, but was announced in a manner inconsistent with the regulations. The referendum was thus postponed, and held instead during the last week of exams, and a regulatory amendment made to allow voting online. However, of the 6383 votes counted, 2218 were "against" votes were submitted from a single non-University IP address, significantly contributing to none of the referendum questions passing.[11] [12] One of the questions of the referendum related to eligibility to hold positions for elected officers. Several students who had been elected were not eligible to hold office under the current constitution, but would have been had the question passed. As such, these students vacated their positions immediately upon assuming office at the conclusion of the Annual General Meeting. These vacancies lasted until the first meeting of the newly elected council.[13]

In 2019, Labor Right split from the Focus deal, and attempted to create a new ticket with Labor Left. Near the close of nominations, the newly re-formed Labor group were advised that another electoral group had reserved their intended name, 'Together'. The Liberal faction within Focus successfully nominated under the name 'Real'. The Returning Officer extended the nominations deadline to allow the Labor group to resubmit their forms with a new name (they chose 'Empower'), but the campaign manager for the new 'Together' ticket appealed the decision to extend the nominations deadline, taking this appeal to the Electoral Tribunal. Labor were supported in defending against this appeal by their former Focus allies in 'Real', but the Electoral Tribunal found against both the major parties, and in favour of 'Together', finding that the regulations did not grant the Returning Officer the power to extend the nomination window. Empower campaigners began the election on a platform of Real having sabotaged the election, but soon changed tactics to a more clear-cut Below the Line campaign.Following voting week, the REAL executive ticket was elected in a landslide by a margin of 63% - 37%. This marked the first time in 6 years that no member of the Australian Labor Party held an elected position on the University of Queensland Union Executive.

In the 2022 student elections, Rebuild was elected to a third term in office and received its largest executive ticket majority with 62% of the primary vote and a 73% - 27% TPP split against the Young LNP-ran Together. This marks the largest single party primary vote since REAL's election in 2019 and the largest two-party preferred split since Fresh's infamous re-election in 2012.

In 2023 the UQ Union under the Rebuild administration officially re-accredited with the National Union of Students after the unions accreditation with NUS ended under Fresh in 2010.

In 2023, Rebuild split under a breakdown in communication between NLS and Labor Right, allegations were made against Labor Right of attempting to make backdoor deals with other electoral groups and undermining the yearly agreement signed between the two Labor factions that made up the crux of Rebuild. Other allegations were made against NLS for intentionally breaking down communication to force the hand of Labor Right to concede positions to the other faction. The split was made official at the close of nominations on 15 September when the Labor Right-held social media pages of Rebuild announced their rebranding to Unite and simultaneously kicked NLS members of the social media moderators off the pages. NLS announced their new joint executive ticket with prominent international and postgraduate ticket Global Mates called Reform, an ode to the previous ticket who ran the UQ Union between 2014 and 2017. The LNP ticket Together also underwent a rebranding phase running under a previously used name called Lift.

Union council composition

2024

The 2024 UQ Union Council is made up of 23 members from 9 electoral groups. Cara Rowe of Reform was elected Council Chair for 2024 at the February Union Council Meeting.

PartyFactionSeatsChange
 ReformNational Labor Students6 3
 UniteLabor Right5 2
 Global MatesPostgrad & International Independents4 1
 Student ActionSocialist Alternative3 1
 LiftYoung LNP1 4
 ConservativesYoung LNP1
 WAP − Women's Action PartyYoung LNP1
 CommunityPostgrad & International Independents1 1
 SpiritIndependent1 1
Total23style=text-align:right;

2023

The 2023 UQ Union Council is made up of 23 members from 8 electoral groups. Alex Smock of Rebuild was elected Council Chair for 2023 at the March Union Council Meeting.

PartyFactionSeatsChange
 RebuildNational Labor Students/Labor Right6 2
 TogetherYoung LNP5 3
 Global MatesPostgrad & International Independents5 4
 Student ActionSocialist Alternative2
 Black FlagAnarchists2 1
 ConservativesYoung LNP1 1
 Legalise WeedYoung LNP1 1
 WAP − Women's Action PartyYoung LNP1
Total23style=text-align:right;

2022

The 2022 UQ Union Council was made up of 24 members from 8 electoral groups. Samuel Adams of Black Flag was elected Council Chair for 2022 at the February Union Council Meeting.

PartyFactionSeatsChange
 RebuildNational Labor Students/Labor Right8 3
 TogetherYoung LNP8 2
 Legalise WeedYoung LNP2 2
 Student ActionSocialist Alternative2 3
 ForwardRadical democracy4
 Black FlagAnarchists1 1
 Global MatesPostgrad & International Independents1 1
 WAP − Women's Action PartyYoung LNP1 1
Total24style=text-align:right;

2021

The 110th UQ Union Council is made up of 24 members from 7 electoral groups. Ji Davis was elected Council Chair for 2021 at the February Union Council Meeting.

PartyFactionSeatsChange
 TogetherYoung LNP/Independent Coalition6 4
 RebuildNational Labor Students/Labor Right5 5
 Student ActionSocialist Alternative5
 ForwardRadical democracy4 4
 YOUIndependent4 4
 International Student AssemblyPostgrad & International Independents2 3
 M A-N CoalitionThe Ablett-Nelsonists1 1
Total24style=text-align:right;

2020

In 2020, the UQ Union Council was made up of 26 student representatives elected from six unique electoral groups, spanning five student factions.

PartyFactionSeatsChange
 REALYoung LNP/Independent Coalition10 10
 International Student AssemblyPostgrad & International Independents5 5
 Student ActionSocialist Alternative5 3
 EmpowerNational Labor Students/Labor Right3 3
 Smokers' Rights/Revive/Activate/Together/UniteYoung Nationals2 1
 A Better Experience1 1
Total26style=text-align:right;

2019

In 2019, the UQ Union Council was made up of 23 student representatives elected from five electoral groups, spanning from five different student factions, plus an independent.[14]

PartyFactionSeatsChange
 FocusYoung LNP/Labor Right11
 MomentumNational Labor Students8
 Student ActionSocialist Alternative2
 Smokers' RightsYoung Nationals1
 Team RocketIndependent1
Total23style=text-align:right;

Controversies

2012 election

In 2012, there was controversy surrounding the conduct of the annual student elections. The incumbents made rule changes that resulted in other teams submitting their nominations in an incorrect manner. This specifically related to last minute changes to union election rules removing the protection for previously used party names, which resulted in campaign material for opposition parties becoming unusable. This resulted in all other opposition parties (including "Pulse" and "I just want my voucher") having their names invalidated. These Allegations were denied by the current President.[15]

Minutes and a recording from the 101st UQU Council meeting show that new regulations were brought in on 10 August.[16] [17] The recording shows that an objection was raised by Councillor Flynn Rush on procedural fairness and constitutional grounds, though this was circumvented through amending the factual basis for the objection. The incumbents did not give the requisite 5 'clear days' notice as per the UQU constitution.[18] [19] The regulation changes went ahead regardless. They were not available until elections and nominations opened.[20]

The 2012 union president stated that members of the Pulse party "can complain all they want" but had 12 months notice on the introduction of new regulations on the use of registered ticket names, and that the 'last-minute' changes to the regulations were to different provisions (namely the timing of the electoral process to reduce it from 4 weeks to 3 as well as adding an entirely new process/form for nominations).

In response to the situation, an activist group titled 'DEMOCRACY 4 UQU' was started by a number of Fresh opposition groups concerned about how the measures introduced affected the student elections. Their goal was to correct what they perceive to be an unbalanced and unfair election process.

UQ deputy Vice Chancellor (academic) Professor Mick McManus, said in response to the situation that UQ was concerned that this issue had a significant impact on students and would be considered in full and addressed appropriately, and that the university would work to resolve the issues.[21] On 22 August, the University announced that the current union administration would be required to provide access to the constitution and changes to it, financial reports, and notices and minutes of meetings held under the current union on its website.[22] Graeme Orr, Professor of Law at the University of Queensland, has pointed out in a radio interview that the power of the electoral tribunal convened to assess whether the elections were held properly was limited only to whether or not the electoral rules were violated, not whether they are valid or were created in accordance to union policy.[23]

On 24 August, the University declared that in line with their funding agreement with the University Of Queensland Student Union, they would carry out an audit into the management of finances.[24]

On 29 August, hundreds of students gathered at UQ's great court to protest against Fresh and call for democracy.[25]

On 3 December, the annual general meeting of the UQU was cancelled after those calling it neglected to inform students and most members of their own executive, resulting in too few people present for the meeting to be quorate. An outgoing Vice-President, who had defected to an opposition political ticket, spoke briefly about the conduct of FRESH, raising concerns that the locking out of the opposition tickets was an act of hypocrisy given that FRESH made multiple electoral reforms early in their term to improve electoral participation.

Notable alumni

The UQU has produced a number of notable alumni including Governors-General of Australia, CEOs, Chief Justices of Australia, State Premiers and Federal Parliamentarians

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: UQU Clubs and Societies.
  2. O'Neill. Dan. 1960. Editorial. Galmahra. 1960. 3–9.
  3. 26 March 1953. Shall We Join The Ladies ? Commem. Week 1953 April 26 —May I. Semper Floreat. 23. 2. 3.
  4. Web site: 2017-01-01 . UQU Collectives . 2024-03-03 . Semper Floreat . en-AU.
  5. Web site: Democratic Rights struggle at University of Queensland Student Union. Curr. Ian. 2019-07-27. Workers BushTelegraph. en. 2019-08-16.
  6. News: UQ union turns left after fraught election . The Australian . 11 September 2013.
  7. Web site: Reform . The Disbanding of Reform . Facebook . Reform for UQU . 30 July 2018.
  8. Web site: Reform 2017 . "It is with great sadness..." . Facebook . Reform 2017 . 30 July 2018.
  9. Web site: McLean . Laurence . UQU Election Results . Google Sheets . 19 September 2018.
  10. Web site: Momentum . Momentum For UQU . Facebook . Momentum . 19 September 2018.
  11. News: Evens . Rowan . Referendum Results . 11 July 2019 . Semper Floreat . Edition 1, 2019 . University of Queensland Union . February 2019 . 5.
  12. News: Lwin . Jeremy . UQ Union Press Release Regarding the Declaration of Referenda . 11 July 2019 . University of Queensland Union . 27 November 2018 . en-AU.
  13. Web site: Minutes of the 1st Ordinary Union Council Meeting (Feb 2019) . 27 February 2019 . 3–4 . 11 July 2019.
  14. Web site: Hine . Danielle . Poll Result: Councillor.
  15. News: SMH/Brisbane Times Article on student unrest . The Sydney Morning Herald.
  16. Web site: 102nd UQU Council Meeting.
  17. Web site: 102nd UQU Council Meeting Minutes.
  18. Web site: See C55 of the UQU Constitution.
  19. Web site: UQU Constitution. 17 June 2019 .
  20. News: University of Queensland to hold hearing over union Fresh's 'dirty tactics' . The Courier-Mail . 22 August 2012.
  21. Web site: Opposition candidates withdraw from University of Queensland student union election after incumbent party changes rules .
  22. Web site: University committed to transparency.
  23. Web site: UQ student elections cause a stir..
  24. News: UQ management considering an audit of UQU. UQ News. Janelle. Kirkland. 24 August 2012. 2013-03-18.
  25. News: Students rally at the University of Queensland to protest election tactics of ruling Student Union party. Jason Tin . 29 August 2012 . . 29 August 2012.