Freedom comes to Australian universities

The Australian Senate passed last night legislation outlawing compulsory membership of student associations. Rebel National Senator Barnaby Joyce was left impotent as the Family First Senator voted with the Government to pass the law.

As the Family First Senator said: “Forcing students to join a student union in the 21st century is crazy”

Let us hope that New Zealand will not be too far behind Australia in bringing freedom to campuses. It will take a change of Government, but should be relatively simple to implement once we do.

And before anyone tries to argue that students can already decide to go voluntary, let me just retort that even putting aside the near impossibility of a fair campaign and vote, there is no sound reason why 51% of students should be able to force 49% to fund their political campaigns and other activities.