Motion 1: The UNSW Student Representative Council (SRC) declares its full support for the National Day of Action for Palestine, taking place on August 7.
Mover: Akash Nagarajan (GenSec, Together Again)
Seconder: Emma Terry (Environment Officer, Left Action)
All factions endorse the NDA and discuss ways to support the NDA contingents Motion passes unanimously
Motion 2: The SRC Says No War on Iran and endorses the National Union of Students statement opposing war on Iran.
Mover: Jamie Tyers (Education Officer, Left Action)
Seconder: Alyss Cachia (Queer Officer, indie)
Arguments for: A ceasefire is necessary to stop American imperialism and condemns the rhetoric of “pre-emptive strikes”
Arguments against: A ceasefire has already been enacted so the motion was old news, only being put forward for ideological points
Motion carries, Together Again votes against, everyone else votes for
Motion 3: The SRC endorses the Students for Palestine screening of ‘The Settlers’ and the National Convergence on Canberra for Palestine
Mover: Emma Terry (Environment Officer, Left Action)
Seconder: Luke Cox (Councillor A, Together Again)
Motion passes unopposed with cross-factional support
Motion 4: Solidarity with anti-ICE and anti-Trump protesters in the US
Mover: Eva Beaumont (Councillor B, Left Action)
Seconder: Luke Cox (Councillor A, Together Again)
Motion passes unanimously with Left Action supporting the motion as fighting against the rise of the far right while Together Again councillors discuss the anti-worker basis of these attacks
Motion 5: Abolish border detention
Mover: Anais Williamson (Councillor A, Left Action)
Seconder: Ellena Cheers-Flavell (Women’s Officer, 365)
Motion carries, Everyone votes for the motion except Revive and Together Again councillors who abstain
Motion 6: Condemning Police Violence at SEC Picket
Mover: Alyss Cachia (Queer Officer, indie)
Seconder: Lousia Chen (Councillor A, Left Action)
Daniel Gulic (Councillor B, Together Again) moves to strike points in the motion to scrap the Crimes Amendment (Places of Worship) Bill 2025 and to provide $100 in care packages to arrested protestors
Amendment not carried
Arguments for: Overreach of police powers, case of Hannah Thomas losing her eyesight for peaceful protests
Arguments against: Providing monetary support illegal under the HESA 2003 Act, defended the law banning protests outside places of worship as necessary to protect faith groups
Motion passes, Left Action, 365 and indies vote for, Together Again and Revive councillors vote against
Motion 7: Oppose the Victorian Labor government’s anti-protest laws
Mover: Louisa Chen (Councillor A, Left Action) Seconder: Jamie Tyers (Education Officer, Left Action)
Arguments for: Undemocratic attack on the ability to organise, the ban on face coverings is an attack on disabled people’s rights to protest
Arguments against: Face coverings provision does not extend to face coverings used for health-related purposes, protests should not and do not help when they endanger the livelihoods and access for the public
Motion carries, Together Again and Alexandra Egan (Councillor B, Revive) vote against, rest vote for
Motion 8: Oppose the North West Shelf gas project extension
Mover: Emma Terry (Environment Officer, Left Action)
Seconder: Anais Williamson (Councillor A, Left Action)
Argument for: Would create more carbon than Australia’s total emission for 2024, destroys indigenous rock art around the area
Argument against: essential for the global transition away from coal and fossil fuels, decisions were made in consultation with Murujuga Aboriginal Corporation, necessary for the development of WA’s regional areas
Motion carries, Everyone except Together Again votes for
Motion 9: PALM scheme is modern slavery – it must be abolished
Mover: Brendan Tate (Welfare Officer, Left Action)
Seconder: Louisa Chen (Councillor A, Left Action)
Arguments for: Racist attack on refugees, another sign of Labor’s unwillingness to protect immigrants or refugees, appropriates wealth from third world nations to enrich the bosses of Australia
Arguments against: PALM scheme has its issues that Labor is working hard to address, the union movement backs the PALM scheme for its benefit for workers and the regions, also benefits Pacific Island nations through the remittances by PALM workers
Motion carries, everyone votes for except Together Again
Motion 10: The SRC acknowledges the death in custody of Kumanjayi White, supports the calls for an independent inquiry and calls for the full implementation of the recommendations of the Royal Commission
Arguments for: Solidarity with Indigenous people, need to address the several deaths of indigenous people in custody
Carried unanimously by council