Student Unity and National Labor Students deny the lockout as a way of blocking criticism against the Australian Labor Party’s complicity in the genocide in Palestine.
Socialist Alternative (SAlt) have been locked out of running for NUS (National Union of Students) office bearer positions after a deal was struck between National Labor Students and Student Unity to lock the faction out, a week prior to the NUS National Conference.
In a scathing article in SAlt publication Red Flag, NUS Education Officer James McVicar (SAlt) alleged the lockout deal was signed in order to prevent the national union from being critical of the government. McVicar further alleged in a video posted on Instagram by Students for Palestine Australia (@studentsforpalestineaus) that NUS Welfare Officer Lucy Fawcett told him that the deal was “about having an NUS that is pro-government, who wouldn't criticise or embarrass Anthony Albanese or his ministers.”
As the genocide rages on in Palestine, SAlt—who maintain control over Students for Palestine clubs across the country have said this lockout stems from their activism in the Palestine movement, with both the NUS Education Office and Students for Palestine clubs organising several high profile actions across the country including the National Student Referendum on Palestine which saw over 5000 students voting to cut ties with weapons manufactuers on campuses and censuring the Australian government.
In a statement to Vertigo, Fawcett has said Student Unity “resents” this implication by SAlt and Students for Palestine, saying that the faction is "disappointed that Socialist Alternative has chosen to run a confected narrative that is based on a lie” and that they have the right to work alongside other factions and groups for students.
“Student Unity is looking forward to a strong progressive NUS in 2026. We are proud of the many achievements of the NUS this year. Some of those achievements include the National Students Referendum on Palestine and the National Day of Action on Palestine—both supported by Student Unity,” the statement reads.
“Our vision is for an NUS that can continue to make real, tangible change for students. This requires constructive engagement, where it is possible, but also open opposition to universities and the Federal Government when it is in the interests of students.”
“We understand why members of Socialist Alternative are frustrated. Student Unity did not [pursue] a lockout of Socialist Alternative in our discussions with other factions.”
Fawcett declined to comment further on the matter.
Speaking under conditions of anonymity, a Student Unity member has said the lockout does in fact stem from Fawcett's alleged statements to McVicar that the NUS should take a pro-government stance.
The anonymous member stated that “if there’s some other reason, we’d know as much as the rest of y’all,” saying inter-factional negotiations to secure office bearer positions in the NUS are handled by more senior members of the faction.
However, the source said the lockout has been met positively by rank-and-file members of the faction. The source also said they were personally happy that the education portfolio was going to go to Student Unity instead.
Students for Palestine UTS convenor and UTSSA Councillor Yasmine Johnson (SAlt) was intending on running to become the 2026 NUS Education Officer, but with the lockout deal, the position remains up for grabs by Student Unity.
Both UTSSA President Neeve Ann Nagle (Student Unity) and General Secretary Salma Elmubasher (Student Unity) declined to comment when approached by Vertigo for comment on the matter.
Speaking to the University of Sydney’s Honi Soit, a National Labor Students (NLS) spokesperson has said electoral factors contributed to the faction’s decision to sign with Student Unity and block SAlt. The spokesperson also said the socialist faction should reflect on their results at campuses like the Australian National University, where they did not elect any NUS delegates.
The fallout from the national lockout has reached UTS, with SAlt calling out both Labor factions during the UTS Students’ Association Representative Elections.
During the elections for Ethnocultural Officer, Queer Officer, and Director of Student Publications for Vertigo, several members of SAlt put forward their nominations for these positions and spoke on the lockout, calling out both Student Unity and NLS and demanding an explanation for the lockout.
During this meeting, President Neeve Ann Nagle called for a procedural for an in-camera session, blocking Vertigo from live posting on X and writing notes, as well as stopping minutes from being written.
After the in-camera session was ceased, a motion to condemn the lockout was moved by UTSSA Education Officer Ella Haid (SAlt), with SAlt and independent councillor Ibrahim Hadi voting for and both Labor factions voting against. The motion failed.
In response to the motion initially being brought to council, both Nagle and Assistant General Secretary Cam Perez (NLS) justified voting down the motion since it condemns both of their respective factions through the UTSSA, with Haid heckling Nagle for failing to condemn NLS and Perez for failing to condemn Student Unity.
Speaking to Vertigo, Yasmine Johnson called out Student Unity in particular for voting down the motion despite the faction being active in Palestine activism on campus.
“Unity tries to appear more pro-Palestine, endorsing particular Palestine protests, but then what they’re participating in on a national level is continuing the project of Unity on a broader scale,” she said.
“To support the Labor Party and endorse them and avoid having the NUS be critical.”
The NUS National Conference is set to begin on the 8th of December and continue until the 11th at Federation University in Ballarat, with national policy and office bearer elections set to be discussed and voted on.
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