Thread by @Woroni

The National Conference for the National Union of Students (NUS) is about to begin. The NUS is the peak representative body for tertiary students across Aus. Thankfully, this only happens once a year. We’ll be bringing you live coverage throughout the next five days.
#natcon22

Currently standing outside as people are accredited. A certain faction has already tried to recruit us 🤐🤐. ANU has a number of delegates here including our Pres, Ben Yates. We also have ANU Labor right, Labor left and SAlt delegates here.

We are back. Some procedural motions are being proposed: Georgie Beatty (NUS Pres.) to chair, Emily Sagolj (Gen Sec.) to deputy chair. Other motions create nominations and some rules for the Business Committee which sets the agenda of the #natcon22 floor.

SAlt seems confused as to whether it supports or denies the right for filming at #natcon22

Motion has passed anyway, as has a motion allowing dels to #bereal on the floor.

The NUS is recording a roughly 300k surplus this year. It is, apparently, the result of late accreditation fees, online conferences, and some support from NGOs.

Motion to limit speaking time to 1 min for each speaker. SAlt and NLS oppose the motion, while Unity supports.

Procedural to amend the speaking time to 2 min from SAlt. Procedural has failed, with Unity and NLS against.

Official, 100% legitimate quote from ANUSA Pres Ben Yates: This is awful.

So, we're bogged down now in how long speaking time should be and how many speakers there should be. Speakers are already heckling each other, speaking across each other and over the chair. All round, lots of speaking.

Update and amendment, motion to limit speaking time to 1 minute has passed, NLS did in fact support it.

We've now started trade unionism. Yay ( I think)

Motion 1.1 - Same Job, Same Pay calls on the NUS to hold a national campaign around ending youth wages.

Fun fact, when I first read this, I thought it was saying we shouldn't pay young people anything, which I definitely do support.

Motion: Passes ( SAlt speaks for & against)

Motion 1.2 - NUS should fight for trade unionist values. This has ignited a powder keg, with SAlt lambasting the NLS & Unity for supporting the ALP.

SAlt: "NUS is in crisis and we have an argument to fix it"

Motion: Passes (SAlt speaks against, votes for)

Motion 1.2 (somehow again) - NUS Besties - The NUS will cooperate with "legitimate unions".

SAlt speaker: The motion is fine, but NUS needs to build its "activist muscles." NUS needs to lead in society, and NLS has no actions.

Motion: Passed

Motion 1.3 - Students should take sides in internal trade union debates.

After SAlt speaks for, most of SAlt begins shouting at the NLS faction. What for, I'm not sure.

Ah, NLS is speaking against.

AH BeReal has just gone off at #natcon22. A moment of harmony, and collective peace as come together for not-so-social social media. Just kidding.

Back to Motion 1.3.

Sike, we're now debating whether people can sit in the aisles and shout/heckle other factions.

Ok, we're now voting on Motion 1.3

SAlt votes for, NLS and Unity are against.

Motion 1.4 - Against Gate-Keeping Unionism. Removes distinction between legitimate, and "illegitimate unions".

SAlt is for. SAlt looks only at NLS when it speaks, and does not engage Unity.

Unity opposes because the RAFFWU's tactic is "divide and conquer"

Motion: Passes

For those paying attention at home, "gate-keeping" was indeed on our bingo card.

Motion 1.5. removing a duplicate clause, passes.

Motion 1.6 - Wage rises aren't the cause of inflation.

NLS condemns the grandstanding of SAlt, where it uses speaking against or for to criticise largely NLS.

I imagine Unity feels largely left out of this debate at the moment :(

Motion: Passes

I have been informed that I cannot thread tweets properly. I personally blame Elon Musk.

Motion 1.7 - Defend the Better-Off Overall Test.

SAlt has asked NLS if "they think". My bigger concern is that if they don't think, how can they therefore be?

Unity: SAlt stands with the Liberal government. Interesting analysis. 🤔

Motion: Passes.

Procedural moving Motion 1.8 to urgency (NLS) passes. It would have discussed the right to strike.

The podium has been moved to lean more towards the NLS to reflect, I guess, who is really debating.

Unity's rhetorical strategy is to simply chant over everyone else. While Cicero roles in his grave, Cesar respects the sheer numbers grind.

Georgie Beatty suspends an NLS speakers' time while someone heckles. SAlt has yet to recieve the same treatment.

Motion 1.9 Privatization puts profits before people

Heated debate about the rights of disabled people vs able-bodied people to speak on this issue particularly in regards to the NDIS.

1.10 Police are scabs

Debate over the classification of Police unions and their need for representation as well as the values of police unions contradicting those of the NUS .

Motion passed

Business Committee (BizComm) has been set. They determine the agenda, procedural aspects and overall vibe of #natcon22

BizComm has 3 Unity members, 2 SAlt members and 2 Unity members.

1.11 Immediate and Just Transition Now

Heated debate over Australia's transition away from fossil fuels. Is it happening? How long will it take? Should it happen? And is the NUS serious about it?

This debate highlighted the division in the labour faction.

Motion Passed

2.1 The NUS hates Scab Unions

An example of student campus politics reaching the big stage and the NUS voting on the issue.

Motion passed

Motion 2.2 Bottom Up Student Unions. The Grindies have entered the fray with a motion for grassroots activism and against centralization.

SAlt no like, saying there has been no national campaign.

NLS and SAlt fiercely defend the NUS from a pro-unionist stance.

Motion: Fails

Motion 2.3 Affirmative Action in Student Unions.

NLS wants the NUS to help student unions enact affirmative action.

SAlt thinks the "real way" is to oppose the Religious Discrimination Bill and to organise marginalised communities to "fight for themselves"

Motion: Passes

As @FarragoMagazine so diligently pointed out, its 8 mins till dinner. For the curious the food is better than Chartwells imo.

Mass boo, heckling and interrupting of SAlt. Definitely reminded of my parents' divorce.

Mass chanting of "Get Elected" at SAlt, a reference to the party's limited success at state and federal elections.

Worth pointing out that SAlt currently has one of its largest shares of the NUS this year.

NUS, either in an attempt to go to dinner or to deprive the meeting of quorum, is attempting to leave the floor.

haha politics.

Pausing for dinner while Unity chants "Student unity forever" and SAlt chants "Fuck the ALP"

Cool.

ANNND we're back, waiting for #natcon22 to start again.

Also watching Ben Yates send me a comment from three rows above him. 🤫🤫

Although I cannot do math, I think we're reaching quorum. Legally, I have to say that I can't wait for #natcon22 to begin.

(My EIC stands behind me with a gun)

When you go to write a tweet, it asks "What's happening?"

I don't know Twitter, I don't know.

No smoking or vaping on campus, and apparently we're in trouble 🙃. Threatened to be kicked off campus.

Buy your Woroni branded vapes up the back of the hall.

Following an intense debate before dinner, Motion 2.4 goes ahead.

NLS spoke against, but now votes for.

Procedural motion to ban formal opposition (where you speak against even if you want to vote, as long as no one speaks against) #natcon22

Unity claps for Tony Bourke and Uni Accords

Procedual motion to bloc 2.5 & 2.6 because "they both suck" (Unity).

Motion 2.5 No support for parties that don't support free education.

Motion 2.6 Direct action, not lobbying.

SAlt claims that NLS wants motions to not include ALP.

Motion: Passes (NLS for) #natcon22

2.5 & 2.6 SAlt "not a good strategy to be a craven sycophant"

Disagree entirely, I love beinga sycophant, ask my EIC.

SAlt is now quoting and disagreeing with Pres Beatty.

#natcon22

Most amendments that go before the BizComm are literally fought for as some dels attempt to destroy the physical amendment.

Neither of my parents fought that hard for me, thinking of putting myself forward as an amendment at #natcon22
Oh, still on 2.5 & 2.6

Guy in front of me just threw up because Unity said "HECS can only be improved."

NGL, Unity speakers are putting in some odd performances today.

#natcon22

Bloc for 2.5 & 2.6 fails
#natcon22

Now jumping to an amendment on 2.7 to strike the first clause about obeying COVID-19 rules. The motion also removes reference to the environment to make it broader.

Amendment passes, motion to be debated. #natcon22

2.7 opposes legislation passed around the country that restricts the right to protest.

SAlt supports the motion despite the amendment.

Unity: "Climate change action will only be hindered by blood spilt" a reference to radical disruption activists.

Motion: Passes #natcon22

Amendment to move 2.8, 2.9, 2.10 on bloc.

SAlt speaker asks NLS to speak up and against the ALP.

Amendment passes.

Bloc motions could be a reflection of a desire to get the debate done quickly for bed time, or because factions feel the motions are very similar. #natcon22

Not entirely sure what's happened to speaker time, a lot of people are speaking for more than one minute.

#natcon22

Bloc of 2.8, 2.9, 2.10

Unity grandstands with a book, something unseen before. Also promises to deliver revolutionary change at the table.

Fun fact Unity spends most of their speaking time introducing themselves then cheering.

SAlt, predictably, lambasts it . #natcon22

BizComm caught not putting torn-up amendments in the bin. #SCANDAL

Person in front of me, who is giving me a run for my money in trying to be funny., calls them bin chickens. #natcon2022

2.8, 2.9, 2.10 fails en bloc.

Motions 14.29 and 14.30 moved from urgency to student unionism.

So urgent its not longer in the urgent section. #natcon22

14.19, SAlt declares NUS "on terminal decline" (so am I babes).

SAlt says "its not enough to show their face" in arguing that the NUS needs to organise protests.

SAlt declares itself "not dreamers." #natcon22

SAlt declares that there's been nothing but words...at a conference...based around debating...where SAlt says it wants an argument #natcon22

14.29. SAlt declares this the most important motion of the year, which isn't wrong. The NUS is in decline, with ANUSA only just accrediting it this year. The NUS protests a few times a year, out the front of APH, and rarely engages CBR Unis, can't speak for other unis #natcon22

While someone says something about another thing, Woroni will follow those who like three of our tweets and say something nice about one of my outfits this week. #natcon22

14.29 (now part of Education) fails.

14.30

SAlt says "NUS is on its way to irrelevancy" and "nothing is being done about it". Wants a "re-orientation."

I need to re-orientate my will to live. #natcon22

Education Officer Luc Velez regrets being in the Time for Change video which SAlt criticises as an ALP propaganda video.

Argues that NLS does not actually campaign for mobilising students. #natcon22

Unity member who has spoken several times alleges that SAlt loves the sound of their own voice. #natcon22

My Woroni reporter wants to collect more and more lanyards through #natcon22. Chat to her if you want to lock yourself out of your room.

In an abuse of the English language, NLS speaker argues that "We oppose this motion because its a bad motion."

Also, finally blows the cover, attacking SAlt for signing a deal with Unity and then slamming NLS for siding with ALP. Hmmm, who is SAlt siding with? #natcon22

14.30 fails.

We're debating 14.31. What it means for NUS to fight under the ALP.

SAlt is an interesting position, attacking the NLS for wanting to work with the ALP, while working with Unity, the equivalent of Labor Right.
#natcon22

NLS seems to either be confused as to its position, or changing tack as it now says it will criticise the ALP and Unity, which it hasn't said thus far.
#natcon22

We're introducing a new #natcon22 acronym, PMOU (Proud Member of Unity) for #efficiency.

Fully expecting someone to speak in Tongues or accidentally summon a Balrog from the depths.

#natcon22

14.1 has now moved to the Education section. Debate is meant to end at 9, and we haven't started the actual Education motions, and am still on urgency motions moved into the debate. #natcon22

NLS member asks, reasonably, "We don't run the govt in NSW, are you well Jasmine" So blessed to see dels looking out for each other's wellbeing. #natcon22

Woah guys, I'm beginning to think people here don't like each other🤔🤔 #natcon22

Motion 14.1 passes

Unity moves motion to "mandate Unity some love." Best rizz I've ever seen #natcon22

We're now taking a solidarity photo with Violet Coco. I'm unsure if I'm in it, but if I'm ugly they have to delete it right now. #natcon22

Tonight's session is over, having debated none of the actual motions in the Education conference. We shall not be going to bed, but will be doing our bingo and nightly summoning rituals. #natcon22