National Organisation of Labor Students

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The National Organisation of Labor Students (usually known as NOLS), was a factional grouping operating within the Australian National Union of Students, generally sympathetic towards the Socialist Left faction of the Australian Labor Party (ALP). It is not to be confused with the British body sometimes known by the same name.

NOLS was not officially affiliated to the ALP, and it described its position as being "critically supportive" of the party. Although NOLS was avowedly socialist, historically opposed to HECS, and to most of the economic measures introduced by the Hawke and Keating Governments, these areas became subject to much debate in later conferences with positions on economic issues becoming more and more ambiguous.

NOLS was also critical of many aspects of the ALP's social policy, particularly with regard to the rights of queer people, and women.

NOLS' slogan depicted it as being centred around the four tenets of "Socialism, Feminism, Unionism, and Democracy". Its symbol was the rose similar to that used in the Socialist International logo, though with the focus of the organisation drifting from economic issues to issues of identity politics the logo was not used all that much in later years.

NOLS was one of the single most powerful factions within NUS. Its power base is primarily campuses within New South Wales and Queensland. Its last presidents, with the exception of Jodie Jansen, have mostly been from the University of Sydney.

Historically, the faction's origins lay in the previous Council of Australian Labor Party Students (CALPS) that existed during the days of the Australian Union of Students (AUS) and incorporated students from both the Left and Right wings of the ALP. A small number of members of CALPS took part of the campaign to wind up the AUS.

CALPS was reconstituted as NOLS, with the Left firmly in a position of dominance within the organisation. NOLS members of both the Left and Right were active in establishing the new National Union.

Labor students were divided over the Hawke Government's introduction of HECS in 1989. Due to a combination personal and political differences and a series of power struggles, right wing Labor students eventually left the faction forming Student Unity in 1991.

A further split occurred in 1997, when most NOLS members from Victoria, two from Western Australia led by Stephen Dawson and two from Queensland withdrew from the faction due to a pre-selection dispute for the position of President. NOLS subsequently attained the presidency with the election of Rose Tracey. The group became known as the Australian Labor Students or ALS. This grouping initially took an ideological position to the right of NOLS, but subsequently moved to the left.

Even prior to the formation of Student Unity, it was customary within the union for Labor Left students to gain the presidency, and the Labor Right students to gain the position of Deputy President/General Secretary. This arrangement has continued throughout the existence of NUS, with NOLS and Student Unity participating in a perpetual "sweetheart deal" to give NOLS President and Unity General Secretary. NOLS' dealings with other factions are mixed. It will frequently co-operate with other factions outside of the ALP in order to both maximise its representation on the NUS committees, executive, and within the array of office bearing positions available in the national and state offices of NUS, and limit the influence of Student Unity.

The last President of the NUS from NOLS was Rose Jackson from Sydney University. Jackson was elected President for the year of 2006.

Along with ALS, the NOLS National caucus voted to wind up itself and initate a reunification process with its other labor left counterpart, ALS (Australian Labor Students). The new faction came into existence on 1 January 2006, and adopted the name of National Labor Students.

The last president of NUS from NOLS is the current president, Angus McFarland from Sydney University.


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Student unionism in Australia
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National student organisations in Australia

Australian Liberal Students Federation | Australian Union of Students | Australasian Union of Jewish Students | Grassroots Left | Independents | National Labor Students | National Liaison Committee | National Union of Students | Socialist Alternative | Student Unity | Australian Labor Students | National Broad Left | National Organisation of Labor Students