Lee Rhiannon (NSW, Australian Greens) Share this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes:

(i) higher education is an important sector that allows for intellectual development and increased job opportunity,

(ii) independent student unions and organisations play a crucial role in the higher education sector particularly in supporting at-risk students and increasing student engagement,

(iii) independent student unions and organisations can play a crucial role in local economies in regional areas, through the provision of jobs and support frameworks for students and young people, and

(iv) Macquarie University currently receives more than $6 million in funding from student fees via the Student Services and Amenities Fee and none of this revenue is provided to independent student unions or directed toward services in democratic consultation with students; and

(b) calls on Macquarie University to:

(i) cease its legal action against the Macquarie University Postgraduate Representative Association and its board members,

(ii) remove any freeze on the Macquarie University Postgraduate Representative Association's bank accounts; and

(iii) support independent and democratically run student unions.

I seek leave to make a short statement.