Submission To The Education And Science Select CommitteeOn The Education (Freedom of Association) Amendment BillMarch 28

2010

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March 22

2010To The Education And Science Select Committee,I am pleased to make this submission on behalf of ACT on Campus.ACT on Campus is an independent nationwide organisation of students and youngpeople that support the ideas of libertarianism and classical liberalism and the ACTParty.Supporting Freedom of Association through Voluntary Student Membership andthrough this bill is official ACT on Campus policy, is a fundamental ideal of theorganisation and is supported the ACT on Campus executive, membership andsupporters.I wish to appear before the select committee to make an oral presentation.Kind regards,Peter McCaffreyVice-President ACT on Campus5/97 Boulcott Street, Wellingtonvicepresident@actoncampus.org.nz021 141 7026

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PART I: INTRODUCTION

This is a submission, on behalf of ACT on Campus, in SUPPORT of the Education(Freedom of Association) Amendment Bill.2)

I wish to appear before the select committee to make an oral submission.3)

In summary, I submit;a)

that it is a fundamental human right to choose what groups and organisations toassociate, or not associate with.b)

that the current system of compulsory student membership of student

s’

associations, as outlined in the Education Act 1989, does not allow for thisfreedom of association of students as guaranteed by the Bill of Rights Act 1990.c)

that this compulsory membership of students

’

associations cannot bedemonstrably justified.d)

that students

’

associations that force students to become members can not trulyrepresent students

’

views on issues and that students can be better representedunder a voluntary membership model.e)

that consistently low voter turnout at students

’

association elections furtheremphasizes the lack of representation of students

’

views.f)

that that compulsory membership removes accountability and responsibilityfrom students

’

associations as no matter how they perform they have aguaranteed income the following year.g)

that the vast majority of services on campus would be unaffected by VSM as theyare either provided by the university or other organisations already, or are verycheap to run any services.h)

that any services that would be affected are those where either students don

’

t want them or where a small minority are currently unfairly benefiting from asubsidy from the majority. i)

that fraud is more likely to occur in organisations where there is littleaccountability and a lack interest and involvement by members.j)

that voluntary student membership, as provided for by this bill, would upholdthat right to freedom of association and provide for accountability andresponsibility and that therefore this bill should be passed.