NUS IS A MESS!

The 2009 NUS Conference in Ballarat has descended into chaos with Labor Party factions tearing each other apart. The infighting between Labor factions is so vicious that the organisation is on the verge of collapse.

The 2009 conference saw only one hour of policy debate, no election of office bearers, allegations of assault and security having to escort students from conference floor due to fears of violence.

“The 2009 NUS national conference is an excellent example of why membership and affiliation fees to student unions should remain voluntary,” said Australian Liberal Students’ Federation (ALSF) President Alex Butterworth today.

 “The NUS require security guards at their national conferences and often need to call police. What kind of organisation is this?”

“Security guards were needed to escort delegates from the conference to their rooms for fears of their safety,”

“A week long conference has resulted in one hour of discussion and debate, and cost tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of dollars.”

“Delegates were flown to Ballarat, flights and conference fees paid for, to spend only an hour actually doing what they were sent there to do,”

“The NUS is so crippled by infighting between Labor factions that it simply cannot function or serve its purpose as a national representative body,” said Mr Butterworth.

Student Unions around Australia can pay up to $150 000 in affiliation fees to the NUS annually, and sometimes higher.

Media Enquiries:                Alex Butterworth

+61 418 264 020

abutterworth@alsf.org.au

www.alsf.org.au

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