Heather Roy’s voluntary student association membership bill has been reported back from the Education and Science Select Committee. It recommends, with a few minor changes, that the bill proceed. This is bad.
In the Select Committee we heard from individual students whose ability to stay at university or polytechnic was the result of advocacy and representation from student associations. Like the guy in Hamilton whose flat burned down and was about to be left with nothing because his insurance company gave him the run around, until the student association stepped in.
We also heard from tertiary institutions who do not support the Bill. They appreciate the representation role played by student associations, and they know that they can not provide services in a cost effective way that associations with large amounts of voluntary labour can.
We heard from Australia how their version of voluntary membership destroyed the vast majority of the services and programmes that student associations ran.
The bizarre thing about this Bill is it actually takes away a choice for students. The current law, which National put in place, allows students to decide by referenda if they will have a voluntary or universal association. That is gone.
One curious thing, is Heather Roy’s media statement on this Bill focuses on calling for National to support her bill. She says
“I call on the National Party – indeed, all Parties of this House – to support my Bill and the right to freedom of association for students throughout New Zealand,” Mrs Roy said.
Why ever would she be worried about National’s support? Didn’t they just vote it through the Select Committee? How curious.
I think Mr Robertson I have to ask why the Labour Party has focused on the “opt out” rather than true voluntary membership, this is because “opt out” does not include the freedom to opt out of paying the fees.
I think that your minority should have focused on why SAs are much less accountable than the local City Councils which are entitled to demand rates and for which there are a great many more checks, balances and openness expected.
Loota, there are lots of other institutions doing advocacy out there and they are all voluntary except for the SA. They are also much more open and accountable to their membership.
If SAs want to be compulsory they have to be subjected to much more stringent regulation and accountability provisions as applies to other compulsory institutions in society.
Note the article in the ODT quotes the compulsory OUSA with an obvious vsted interest in the status quo.
If I was a member of OUSA I would be asking questions about what the 45 paid staff actually do.
And actually, this would probably be a very good thing.
And yes, another good point, student members should take a far closer interest in how OUSA is run and whether both officers and employees are doing the jobs that they need to be doing.
Maybe we should compel them to… OUSA observation meetings between 0100hrs – 0200hrs on Saturday mornings…
@Kiwireader – the services of any organisation you are a member of are there for you to use; because you choose not to is your choice, like being a member of a golf club and never playing, just using the facilities.
It isn’t the unions fault you didn’t visit for student support, health services or cheap beer.
Auckland University Students’ Association has been an excellent oragnisation as long as I can remember. Think of politicians that have come out of student politics – Sue Kedgely, Tim Shadbolt, David Lange ..
Grant Robertson
LOL
Hey swampy – I see you’re back to take up the same battle 