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Voluntary Student Unions Bill: Speech By Senator Steve Fielding

Dec 09, 2005

This is the text of Senator Steve Fielding’s speech on the Voluntary Student Unions bill.

Speech by Senator Steve Fielding, representing Family First.

Senator FIELDING (Victoria—Leader of the Family First Party) (3.52 pm)— This issue has been a vexed one for me and for Family First. I have looked at the issue on its merits and I genuinely believe the argument can run both ways—to retain compulsory student union fees or abolish them. I have been asked constantly for my views about the Higher Education Support Amendment (Abolition of Compulsory Up-front Student Union Fees) Bill 2005—for many days and weeks—and have given an honest answer, telling my parliamentary colleagues, the media and my constituents that I have not made up my mind on the bill. I have had a great deal of trouble deciding on this legislation because there are strong advocates for both sides mounting good cases. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Legislation, Student Unions Tagged With: ,

Voluntary Student Unions Bill: Speech By Senator Natasha Stott-Despoja

Dec 09, 2005

This is the speech by Australian Democrats Senator Natasha Stott-Despoja on the voluntary student unions bill.

Speech by Senator Natasha Stott-Despoja on the voluntary student unions bill.

Senator STOTT DESPOJA (South Australia) (3.21pm)—As the only person from the Democrats who will get onto the speakers list today, I rise on behalf of the Australian Democrats to make it very clear that we strongly oppose this legislation and the process that we have observed today in this place. Today is Freaky Friday in the Senate. On Freaky Friday we have talked for an hour or so on the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development involving Mongolia and spent 3½ hours on a non-controversial, bipartisan supported bill involving the establishment of Carnegie Mellon and a change to the ESOS Act. That is 3½ hours of valuable, taxpayer-funded Senate time. Earlier this week, 2½ hours was good enough for antiterrorism, which is arguably the most significant piece of legislation in this parliament’s history, let alone in the last almost decade of this coalition government. [Read more…]

Filed Under: Australian Democrats, Legislation, Student Unions Tagged With:

Voluntary Student Unions Bill: Speech By Senator Penny Wong

Dec 09, 2005

This is the speech by ALP Senator Penny Wong on the voluntary student unions bill.

Speech by ALP Senator Penny Wong on the voluntary student unions bill.

Senator WONG (South Australia) (3.01 pm)—What do we see here today? We see this government, in its arrogance, continuing to treat this chamber like its own private club. You may as well make this chamber an extension of the coalition party room, because that is how you are treating it. What we are seeing today is the government moving a guillotine on a highly controversial bill and then rorting the speakers list so that they still get to speak while senators on the opposition side are cut off. That is what we are seeing from this government. [Read more…]

Filed Under: A.L.P., Legislation, Student Unions Tagged With:
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