Australian Greens Deputy Leader and Higher Education spokesperson, Senator Mehreen Faruqi, has called on universities to respect the overwhelming mandate of their students and end all partnerships with weapons companies, following the results of a historic national referendum on Palestine.
More than 5,000 students across roughly 20 campuses voted in the first National Union of Students (NUS) referendum in the union's four-decade history. The grassroots referendum passed two motions almost unanimously: censuring the Australian government for its complicity in the genocide in Gaza, and demanding universities cut ties with weapons manufacturers.
In February, Senator Mehreen Faruqi introduced a Bill requiring universities to disclose and divest from any partnerships with dirty industries, including weapons manufacturers, gambling, fossil fuel and tobacco companies.
Lines As put by Senator Faruqi, Deputy Leader of the Greens and Spokesperson for Tertiary Education:
"For the first time in decades, thousands of students have spoken with one voice, demanding that their universities stop profiting from war, militarism and the machinery of genocide. University leadership cannot ignore this.
"Students have given their universities a clear, democratic instruction: end the dirty partnerships with the weapons companies profiting from Israel's genocide in Gaza.
"Universities exist to serve the public interest. They shouldn't be getting into bed with arms companies and helping to sanitize their reputations.
"History will not be kind to those who ignored this moment - University Vice-Chancellors must cut the bloody ties now or forever wear the shame.
"Students across the country have issued a historic censure of the Albanese Government for its complicity in the genocide in Gaza. This is a wake-up call from the next generation, and the message is clear: sanction Israel, stop the two-way arms trade, and end the complicity.
"When thousands of students, in the first national referendum of its kind, vote almost unanimously to condemn the Government's role in war crimes, it cannot be ignored.
"In light of this historic result, the Albanese government must back the Greens' bill forcing universities to be transparent and cut ties with dirty industries-whether weapons, fossil fuels, or gambling-so our institutions serve the public good, not corporate profiteers."
