Comment by Sean Healy
There has been considerable debate about how best to combat the ideas of One Nation on campuses. Some have argued that student organisations should declare campuses "Hanson free" and "ban" One Nation from meeting. Others (including Resistance) argue that student organisations should pursue a strategy of anti-racist mobilisation and education, rather than restrict anyone's democratic rights.
Some who advocate banning have also argued that student unions should disaffiliate clubs deemed to be racist and not allow such groups access to union facilities. Such a strategy would be disastrous. It would be ineffective against racism, and would damage the standing of student unions.
Student unions have often "banned" certain ideas, refused access to facilities and disaffiliated clubs that aren't approved of. Most have been cases of right-wing unions using such tactics against the left. There's nothing to be gained from left student unions now using these tactics against the right. This would make it easier for future right-wing union leaders to clamp down on left student activism.
It's not straight forward deciding which clubs are "racist" and therefore subject to disaffiliation. One Nation would be an obvious target for disaffiliation but what of the Liberal Club? What about ALP clubs affiliated to a party which passed racist laws while in government?
If disaffiliation is permissible, wouldn't censoring rival views from student newspapers also be OK? Or preventing right-wing groups from running for student union positions?
By following this path, the left would become isolated from the student population and be vulnerable to attack by governments, university administrations and right-wingers.
Student unions have two broad functions. They act as defenders of students' interests (like trade unions), but they also provide facilities and services for all students (similar to local councils). An essential task of student unions is to help create a climate on campus of open discussion and debate, in which students can form any club they please and use the unions facilities in pretty much whatever way they wish.
Whereas student unions incorporate all students as members, trade unions are voluntary organisations set up to defend their members' interests against the employers. So, unlike student unions, a trade union is under no obligation to offer its facilities and resources to anyone other than its members. Trade unions can restrict access to their facilities without endangering anyone's freedom of speech or assembly.
Student unions were established with the primary aim of providing services and facilities to all students. While the left has been able to give student unions more of a political function, service and facility provision remains a major part of their role.
The left should continue to support student unions' encouragement of debate and discussion amongst students. This would be fatally compromised by restricting who can and can't be part of the union or use its facilities.
Student organisations should take a campaigning attitude rather than a passive "ban them" approach. This would involve supporting and organising protests (including outside One Nation meetings), but also putting serious resources behind educating students about racism and its dangers.
[Sean Healy is the national coordinator of Resistance. The debate about how to fight racism on campus will be part of the Fight Racism conference in Sydney, September 27-28. See advertisement on page 15 for more details.]