Anti Student Organisation Legislation (ASOL)

For many international students the abolition of student organisations could mean a big change in the way they currently become settled in, socialize and make many friends in Australia. For others it may mean losing access to extremely important and inexpensive services available to all students. For all international and domestic students it will mean losing the right to student representation on campus and within the university system.

For many international students the international clubs and societies funded by student organizations on campus is where they meet and make the most important friends they make in Australia, particularly when they first arrive. International student organizations on campus are not always purely a social club.

Student organizations offer student representation and advice services as well. There is an international student officer or an international student organization that provides representation or advice to international student on almost every campus in Australia. Sometimes this representation can be the difference between a pass and a fail and the difference between staying or leaving Australia.

The current Federal Government is intending to introduce a legislation that will effectively cut the funding to all student organisations by making it voluntary to pay the unversity general service fees. With these fees a voluntary payment instead of a compulsory fee, many services, clubs, societies and student organised events will no longer exist.

The NLC opposes the introduction of such a damaging legislation and hopes that through informing all international students, they may be willing to get involved in a nationwide campaign to stop this legislation from being introduced.