The Wire

How would you feel if democratic processes in Australia were not up to scratch? Some students today at the University of New England believe this to be the case. Today they are planning to launch appeals against a referendum decision that voted to disaffiliate the university with the National Union of Students. The referendum – held last week – asked students whether they wished to remain affiliated with the National Union of Students. The referendum results were 617 supporting the referendum and 707 against. Now this may all sound like a harmless student stouch. But coming as it does the year when Voluntary Student Union is a subject of major debate, student groups at the university claim otherwise. The appeals will raise concerns that referendum results may have been rigged, because of interference with ballot boxes, and will also air concerns about promises of cash grants if students voted to break away from the NUS. Toby Robinson is a UNE student and the President of the New England Country Labor and a supporter of the YES camp on the referendum. He told Erica Vowles why he and other students would be launching an appeal.