The case against compulsory student unionism

The next argument is based on the economic responsibility of student unions at universities. Australian university students paid $155 million last year in union fees. Putting aside the astonishing costs faced individually by students, it raises the question: Are students able to manage these funds responsibly and effectively?

Recent evidence shows it has not been the case. Melbourne University, which had revenue of $14 million, recently went into bankruptcy. Without professionals looking over the funds it is obvious that students cannot be trusted with these large amounts of money. The mismanagement at Melbourne University confirms this.

VSU has been in operation since 1994, when it was introduced by the Court Liberal Government in Western Australia. The reaction when it was introduced was similar to what we are seeing now. Unions were saying it would mean the end of student interest groups and subsidised food on campus.

But instead, we are seeing student unions act with a more competitive nature: unions are forced to adapt or perish. In a 2002 discussion paper, it was noted:

... Whilst the mix of services provided by the UWA Student Guild has altered in the years following the introduction of VSU, students have ultimately benefited with 45 different types of services being offered in 1997, as opposed to the 27 different types of services offered in 1994 under compulsory student unionism.

This shows that unions must act in a competitive way and adapt to the students needs in order to maintain a strong membership base.

Voluntary unionism will not stop the unions from playing a central role in university life, nor will it stop student support services from operating. The slogan of the Australian Liberal Students Foundation rightly puts it: "It’s about students, not student unions."