The Department was asked during the Senate Estimates hearings on 11 th February to provide the Committee with a list of services provided by student organisations. This lack of understanding has not prevented the Minister from proceeding with legislation which jeopardises services which he may not even be aware exist. Student organisations are not trade unions The Government has sought to conflate student organisations with trade unions in public debate. As a result, it is necessary in addressing the Government's motivation to clarify the differences that exist between trade unions and student organisations. While student organisations and trade unions share the common goal of representing their members via a democratic collective structure, student organisations do not represent the industrial interests of their members and are not registered with Industrial Relations Commission.
Student organisations are more analogous in structure to local councils than trade unions.
There are both legal and policy implications which mean that the proposed legislation is inappropriate. The NTEU believes that it would be grossly irresponsible of the Parliament to pass this bill so long as this doubt remains unresolved. Australian universities have experienced a period of continual change and upheaval over many years, causing stress and increased workloads for staff working within them. The passage of this legislation would create a great deal of legal uncertainty as a result of extensive litigation, during which time additional stress would be placed on our universities. The only immediate certainties arising from the passage of this bill would be enormous instability and damage to the international reputation of our university system.