By Rowey Worner Butcher and Saffron Geyle
On 21 August, students at the ANU participated in a historic student referendum. Held at Copland Lecture Theatre, attendees took part in a vote consisting of two parts:
- Students censure the Australian government for its complicity in the genocide in Gaza. We demand an end to all weapons sales to Israel by Australia and Australian companies, and call for sanctions on Israel.
- Students call on Australian universities to end their complicity with Israel’s genocide by ceasing all partnerships with weapons companies.
Run by Students for Palestine and the National Union of Students (NUS), the vote was put up for debate, however, there were no speakers against the motion.
The vote was passed unanimously. After the passing of the vote, students rallied to the ANU Chancelry, with calls of “from the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.”
The referendum comes in the context of Israel’s continued assault and genocide of Palestinians in Gaza.
As of August 13, the Australian Government has pledged to recognise the state of Palestine.
However, protesters demanded more, from both the Australian Government, and the ANU. Speaking for the motion was ANU student Tamsyn Smith.
“This isn’t the action of a government who cares, these are the actions of a government who are still sending weapon parts to Israel,” Smith said.
In August 2024, ANU promised it would change its investment policies to exclude “controversial weapons manufacturers and civilian small arms manufacturers”.
Protesters state that the details of these divestments remain unclear.
When questioned by Observer on these details, ANU Chief Financial Officer Michael Lonergan stated, “ANU updated its Socially Responsible Investment (SRI) policy in 2024.
“The policy was updated to include a negative screen, excluding manufacturers of controversial weapons (anti-personnel mines, cluster munitions, chemical weapons, biological weapons and nuclear weapons outside of the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons) and/or civilian small arms.
“This was approved by the ANU Council at its 9 August 2024 meeting.”
He stated the ANU investment portfolio was compliant as of 31 August 2024, with monthly assessments undertaken to ensure compliance.
The referendum is being held nationwide, with students able to vote via online registration.
The ANU was the third university in Australia to hold its vote, preceded by Victoria University and Griffith University.
Observer spoke to Co-Convener for Students for Palestine, Carter Chryse.
They stated “what we want to do with this referendum is to show we have the numbers.
“Students care about Palestine… with the events occurring in Palestine right now, it’s never been more important to stand for Palestine.”
In their callout to students hesitant to join the cause, they stated, “If not now, when? If not us, who?
“This is the moral problem of our generation.”
Observer will continue to report on student activism for Palestine as it develops.
Graphics by Anushkaa Ahuja
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