Sydney University Liberal Club: Difference between revisions - Wikipedia
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[[File:SULC Logo.jpg|thumb|281x281px|Sydney University Liberal Club Logo]]
The '''Sydney University Liberal Club''' (SULC) is a student association operating under the auspices of the [[University of Sydney Union]] (USU).<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.usuonline.com/Clubs__Socs/Find_a_Club/G_-_M/Liberal_Club.aspx?t=6 |title=The University of Sydney Union Website |publisher=USU Online |date=26 March 1999 |access-03date=2 October 2012 |url-26status=dead |accessdatearchive-url=2012https://web.archive.org/web/20120323042617/http://www.usuonline.com/Clubs__Socs/Find_a_Club/G_-10_M/Liberal_Club.aspx?t=6 |archive-02date=23 March 2012 }}</ref> The club hosts policy debates, annual dinners, student election campaigns, and guest speaker events with [[member of parliament|members of parliament]]. It is an affiliate of the [[Australian Liberal Students' Federation]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.alsf.org.au/about.shtml |title=About Us |publisher=ALSF |access-date=2 October 2012 |accessdateurl-status=2012dead |archive-10url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130409001249/http://alsf.org.au/about.shtml |archive-02date=9 April 2013 }}</ref>
==History==
Founded in 1933, the Sydney University Liberal Club has a historical rivalry with the Melbourne University Liberal Club, which was established a few years earlier in 1925. <ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mulc.ipeg.com.au/node/28 |title=About Us |publisher=MULC |access-date=30 October 2012 |accessdateurl-status=2012dead |archive-10url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131109164353/http://www.mulc.ipeg.com.au/node/28 |archive-30date=9 November 2013 }}</ref>
The Patron of the Sydney University Liberal Club is Former Prime Minister 1996-20071996–2007, [[John Howard]]. Whilst historically the Liberal Club claimed two state delegates within the [[Liberal Party of Australia (New South Wales Division)|Liberal Party]], the club itself is no longer formally affiliated with the Party.<ref>{{cite book|last=Hancock|first=Ian|title=The Liberals: A History of the NSW Division of the Liberal Party of|year=2007|publisher=Federation Press|location=Leichhardt|pages=78}}</ref>
The club attracted attention for its early opposition to the [[White Australia policy]]. In 1958, it circulated a memorandum called "White Australia in a Changing World" at a Liberal Party Convention in Sydney, describing the policy as the "greatest stumbling block in our foreign policy that exists today." <ref>{{cite web |title=80 Years of Liberal Students |url=http://younglibs.org.au/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=36:anniversary-eighty-years-of-liberal&Itemid=57 |website=Young Liberal Movement of NSW |access-date=17 January 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150401001827/http://younglibs.org.au/index.php?option=com_k2&view=item&id=36:anniversary-eighty-years-of-liberal&Itemid=57 |archive-date=1 April 2015 |date=22 November 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
A defining debate in the club over the past 30 years has been [[Voluntary Student Unionism]] (VSU). With the exception of a short period in the late 1990s, the Sydney University Liberal Club has been a consistent supporter of voluntary student unionism, and has attracted national media coverage in recent years for its pro-VSU counterprotests.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/young-liberals-crash-the-party-at-prounion-march/2006/04/12/1144521402557.html |title=Young Liberals crash the party at pro-union march -– National |publisherwork=smh.com.auThe Sydney Morning Herald |date=2006-04-13 April 2006 |accessdate=2 October 2012-10-02}}</ref>
==John Howard Debating Cup==
In 2010 the club launched the annual John Howard Debating Cup with the purpose of celebrating the legacy of the Howard Government and providing a forum for public policy debate amongst Liberal Students.<ref name="usuonline1">{{cite web |url=http://www.usuonline.com/Whats_On/John_Howard_Debating_Cup_-_Grand_Finals.aspx?t=7&d=5489 |title=The University of Sydney Union Website |publisher=USU Online |date=26 March 1999 |access-03date=2 October 2012 |url-26status=dead |accessdatearchive-url=2012https://web.archive.org/web/20120323042628/http://www.usuonline.com/Whats_On/John_Howard_Debating_Cup_-10_Grand_Finals.aspx?t=7&d=5489 |archive-02date=23 March 2012 }}</ref> The Howard Cup is an intervarsity debating competition between six Liberal Clubs across New South Wales, consisting of preliminary rounds and a grand finals.
In 2011 over 250 attendees from Sydney University, Macquarie University, University of Technology Sydney, University of New South Wales, University of Western Sydney, and the University of Wollongong attended the competition.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.usuonline.com/Whats_On/John_Howard_Debating_Cup_-_Round_1.aspx?t=7&d=5486 |title=the University of Sydney Union Website |publisher=USU Online |date=26 March 1999 |access-03date=2 October 2012 |url-26status=dead |accessdatearchive-url=2012https://web.archive.org/web/20120323042651/http://www.usuonline.com/Whats_On/John_Howard_Debating_Cup_-10_Round_1.aspx?t=7&d=5486 |archive-02date=23 March 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.usuonline.com/Whats_On/John_Howard_Debating_Cup_-_Round_2.aspx?t=7&d=5487 |title=The University of Sydney Union Website |publisher=USU Online |date=26 March 1999 |access-03date=2 October 2012 |url-26status=dead |accessdatearchive-url=2012https://web.archive.org/web/20120323042709/http://www.usuonline.com/Whats_On/John_Howard_Debating_Cup_-10_Round_2.aspx?t=7&d=5487 |archive-02date=23 March 2012 }}</ref>
Each year the grand finals features an adjudication and keynote address by [[John Howard]], and adjudications by notable conservatives like [[Tony Abbott]], [[Malcolm Turnbull]], [[Janet Albrechtsen]], [[Piers Akerman]], [[Alexander Downer]], [[Natasha Maclaren-Jones]], [[Tom Switzer]], and [[Paul Fletcher (politician)|Paul Fletcher]]. The Cup was initiated by then Vice -President Alex Dore. Winning teams of the competition have been:
*2010 -– University of Wollongong Liberal Club
*2011 -– Sydney University Liberal Club<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.usuonline.com/About_USU/News/2011/USU_Liberal_Club_Win_Howard_Debating_Cup_-_15_June_2011.aspx?t=1 |title=the University of Sydney Union Website |publisher=USU Online |date=15 June 2011 |access-06date=2 October 2012 |url-15status=dead |accessdatearchive-url=2012https://web.archive.org/web/20120323201943/http://usuonline.com/About_USU/News/2011/USU_Liberal_Club_Win_Howard_Debating_Cup_-10_15_June_2011.aspx?t=1 |archive-02date=23 March 2012 }}</ref>
*2012 -– Sydney University Liberal Club
*2013 -– Sydney University Liberal Club
*2015 -– University of New South Wales Liberal Club
==Controversy==
In 2006 the ''[[Sydney Morning Herald]]'' reported that the club had become more conservative after a former member of the club proposed a resolution to reintroduce the death penalty for "heinous crimes", and to strip non-Christians of the Christmas and Easter holidays.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/party-animals/2006/07/01/1151174401727.html?page=fullpage |title=Party animals -– National |publisherwork=smh.com.auThe Sydney Morning Herald |date=1 July 2006-07-01 |accessdate=2 October 2012-10-02}}</ref> This prompted allegations of 'strong conservatism', and claims that it risked the Liberal Party's reputation as "a broad church",<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/opinion/factions-deal-while-the-members-leave/2006/06/11/1149964407001.html?page=2 |title=Factions deal while the members leave -– Opinion |publisherwork=smh.com.auThe Sydney Morning Herald |date=2006-06-12 June 2006 |accessdate=2 October 2012-10-02}}</ref> even though these motions failed to pass or to attract any significant support.
In 2009, the club drew controversy in ''[[The Australian]]'' after a hostile takeover attempt by the "far-right" was quashed at an Annual General Meeting chaired by [[David Clarke (Australian politician)|David Clarke]] MLC, and attended by [[Marie Ficarra]] MLC and [[Dominic Perrottet]] MP.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/young-liberals-factional-divides-grow-into-obscene-texts/story-e6frg6o6-1225765021150 |title=Young Liberals' factional divides grow into obscene texts |publisherwork=The Australian |date=2012-09-28 September 2012 |accessdate=2 October 2012-10-02}}</ref> An investigation by the Liberal Party ensued after allegations of threatening behaviour towards young members of the club.;<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.vexnews.com/2009/07/the-return-of-the-uglies-nsw-liberal-hard-right-mps-invade-sydney-uni-liberal-club-and-fail/ |title=VEXNEWS 2012 | THE RETURN OF THE UGLIES: NSW Liberal Hard Right MPs invade Sydney Uni Liberal Club and fail |publisher=Vexnews.com |access-date=2 October 2012 |accessdateurl-status=2012dead |archive-10url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120329080122/http://www.vexnews.com/2009/07/the-02return-of-the-uglies-nsw-liberal-hard-right-mps-invade-sydney-uni-liberal-club-and-fail/ |archive-date=29 March 2012 }}</ref> police were also called to the incident.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://www.smh.com.au/national/tertiary-education/club-no-stranger-to-scraps-as-party-factions-vie-for-influence-20121001-26vl8.html | work=The Sydney Morning Herald | title=Club no stranger to scraps as party factions vie for influence}}</ref>
In May 2011, this same "far-right" group again drew controversy in the ''Sydney Morning Herald'' after the Vice -President and Secretary noticed the addition of over 60 international students to the club membership list just hours before a scheduled Ordinary Meeting.<ref>{{cite news|author=Sean Nicholls |url=http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/hard-right-tries-to-take-over-uni-liberal-club-20110520-1ewq2.html |title=Hard right tries to take over uni Liberal club |publisherwork=Smh.com.auThe Sydney Morning Herald |date=2011-05-21 May 2011 |accessdate=2 October 2012-10-02}}</ref> The Ordinary Meeting was subsequently disbanded by security, and a scheduled Annual General Meeting was postponed until September by the [[University of Sydney Union]] (USU). The stacking was instigated by then club President Adrian Pryke after his defection to the hard-right.<ref>{{cite news|author=Damien Murphy and Aaron Cook |url=http://www.smh.com.au/entertainment/a-big-day-for--kylie-minogue-20110601-1fglv.html |title=A big day for ... Kylie Minogue |publisherwork=Smh.com.auThe |date=Sydney Morning Herald |accessdate=2 October 2012-10-02}}</ref>
The club has also been a major contributor to the "Make Education Fair" campaign, headed by the [[Young Liberals (Australia)|Young Liberals]]. This campaign was created with the stated purpose of exposing and reducing political bias throughout all levels of education.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.makeeducationfair.org.au/ |title=Archived copy |access-date=21 October 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080820064904/http://www.makeeducationfair.org.au/ |archive-date=20 August 2008 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> A Senate enquiry conducted to examine this potential bias, saw many club members provide evidence.<ref>https://senate.aph.gov.au/submissions/comittees/ViewSubmissions.aspx?inquiryid=126{{Dead link|date=June 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=no }}</ref>
In 2016 the club had a split in membership. Theover thena presidentcontentious Williamupcoming DawesSULC sawelection supportbetween beginthe splitPresident awayand fromSecretary. himAmid asconcerns himselfabout vote-stacking, and vicenon-presidentstudents Domregistering Bondarto werevote, notedand movingother withissues, prejudicethe againstUniversity membersof thatSydney helddissolved intellectualthe disabilitiesentire membership and thoserequired ofall non-anglomembers decent.to This split was heavily reportedre-apply in the student Newspaper Honi Soit, and the Union Publication Pulpperson.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://honisoit.com/2016/05/liberal-clubs-membership-dissolved-by-usu-agm-postponed/ | work=Honi Soit | title=Liberal Club’sClub's membership dissolved by USU, AGM postponed}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=http://honisoit.com/2016/07/accusations-of-stacking-fly-as-sulc-gears-up-for-a-factional-showdown/ | work=Honi Soit | title=Accusations of stacking fly as SULC gears up for a factional showdown}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.usu.edu.au/News/Not-all-quiet-on-the-Liberal-front.aspx | work=Pulp | title=NOT ALL QUIET ON THE LIBERAL FRONT}}</ref>
{{detailsFurther|Alan Jones shame controversy}}
On 23 September 23, 2012, SULC hosted its annual President's Dinner with a keynote address by Sydney radio presenter [[Alan Jones (radio broadcaster)|Alan Jones]]. In his address Mr Jones was cited as saying, "The old man recently died a few weeks ago of shame. To think that he had a daughter who told lies every time she stood for parliament" <ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/julia-gillards-father-died-of-shame-alan-jones/story-e6frg6n6-1226484516814 |title=Julia Gillard's father died of shame: Alan Jones |publisherwork=The Australian |date=2012-09-28 September 2012 |accessdate=2 October 2012-10-02}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|author=Heath Aston |url=http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/political-news/gillards-father-died-of-shame-alan-jones-20120929-26soa.html |title=Alan Jones says Julia Gillard's father died of shame |publisherwork=Theage.com.auThe Age |date=2010-09-20 September 2010 |accessdate=2 October 2012-10-02 |location=Melbourne}}</ref> in reference to Prime Minister, [[Julia Gillard]]'s recently deceased father. At the same event the Club auctioned off a jacket made of chaff bags, a reference to his previous comments on radio that Lord Mayor of Sydney, [[Clover Moore]], Julia Gillard and Bob Brown should be "put into a chaff bag, thrown out to sea and made to swim back".<ref name="dtshame">{{cite web|url=http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/national/jones-says-gillards-dad-died-of-shame/story-fncynkc6-1226484128451 |title=Alan Jones apologises for speech that claimed PM's father 'died of shame' |publisherwork=The Daily Telegraph |date=2012-09-30 September 2012 |accessdate=4 October 2012-10-04}}</ref> These comments drew strong criticism from mass and social media commentators. Both the Liberal Club and Alan Jones issued an apology in relation to the matter.<ref name="dtshame" />
== Past Presidents ==
{{unreferenced|section|date=January 2022}}
{| class="wikitable collapsible" width=350px
|+
!Year
!President
|-
|1946
|Ted McWhinney
|-
|1947
|Mali Stephen
|-
|1948
|Barry French
|-
|1949
|Mike Lazar
|-
|1950–51
|F.J. Nicholls
|-
|1952
|Brooks Wilson
|-
|1953–54
|Don Hayward
|-
|1955
|Bill Gale
|-
|1956
|[[Jim Carlton]]
|-
|1957
|Janet Spratt
|-
|1958
|Vincent John Flynn
|-
|1959
|Malcom Beveridge
|-
|1960
|Don Harding
|-
|1961–62
|Brian Jardin
|-
|1963
|John Hamilton
|-
|1964
|Brian Jardine
|-
|1965
|Peter Middleton
|-
|1967–68
|David Mendelsson
|-
|1969
|Wal Browne
|-
|1970–71
|Paul McClintock
|-
|1972
|John Booth
|-
|1973
|Annabella Fletcher
|-
|1974
|John Quinn
|-
|1975
|Katrina Penrose
|-
|1976
|Ian Whisken
|-
|1977
|Valdis Berzins
|-
|1978
|Kym Turner
|-
|1979
|Kym Turner / James Harker-Mortlock
|-
|1980
|Michael Christie
|-
|1981
|John Holley
|-
|1982
|Tony Dimmit
|-
|1983
|Peter Griffiths
|-
|1984
|Mark Hayward
|-
|1985
|Stephen Coutts
|-
|1986
|Michael Hughes
|-
|1987
|Brendan Wong
|-
|1988
|Luke Bunbury
|-
|1989
|Joanna Doyle
|-
|1990
|Andrew Ethell
|-
|1991
|David Rook
|-
|1992
|Stephen Galilee
|-
|1993
|Justin Owen
|-
|1994
|Jason Groves / Genevieve Turville
|-
|1995–96
|Tony Chappel
|-
|1997–98
|Parissa Notaras
|-
|1999–2000
|Adam Faulkner
|-
|2001–02
|Kyle Kutasi
|-
|2003
|[[Dominic Perrottet]]
|-
|2004
|Sonia Stavreff
|-
|2005
|Charles Perrottet
|-
|2006
|Tom Watson
|-
|2007
|Tim Andrews
|-
|2008
|Ben Potts
|-
|2009
|Sasha Uher
|-
|2010
|Adrian Pryke
|-
|2011–13
|Alex Dore
|-
|2014–15
|William Dawes
|-
|2016–17
|Josh Crawford
|-
|2018–19
|Jack O’Brien
|-
|2020–22
|Alex Baird
|-
|2022–23
|David Zhu
|-
|2023–
|Archie Cuttance
|}
==Notable alumni==
* [[Malcolm Turnbull]] MP, 29th [[Prime Minister of Australia]], incumbent 2015 -2015–2018, Minister of Communications 2013-20152013–2015, Leader of the Opposition 2008-20092008–2009<ref name="crikey1">{{cite web|url=http://www.crikey.com.au/2010/10/01/crikey-list-which-mps-were-involved-in-student-politics/ |title=List: which MPs were involved in student politics? |publisher=Crikey |date=1 October 2010-10-01 |accessdate=2 October 2012-10-02}}</ref>
* [[John Howard]] AC, 25th Prime Minister of Australia 1996-20071996–2007<ref>{{cite book|last=Howard|first=John Winston|title=Lazarus Rising|year=2011|publisher=HarperCollins Australia|location=Sydney|pages=27}}</ref>
* [[Joe Hockey]] MP, 38th [[Treasurer of Australia]] 2013- 2013–<ref name="crikey1"/>
* [[Mike Baird (politician)|Mike Baird]] MP, 44th [[Premier of New South Wales]], 2014 -2014–2017
* [[John Brogden (politician)|John Brogden]], Leader of the NSW Opposition 2002-20052002–2005
* [[Kerry Chikarovski]], Leader of the NSW Opposition 1998-20021998–2002
* [[Neville Wran]], Premier of NSW, 1976-19861976–1986
* [[Tony Abbott]] MP, 28th [[Prime Minister of Australia]], ''2013 -– 2015''- <ref>{{cite book|last=Abbott|first=Tony|title=Battlelines|year=2011|publisher=Melbourne University Publishing|location=Melbourne|pages=11}}</ref>
* [[Ted McWhinney]], Member for Vancouver Quadra (Canada) 1993-20001993–2000
* [[Paul Fletcher (politician)|Paul Fletcher]] MP, Member for Bradfield
* [[Angus Taylor (politician)|Angus Taylor]] MP, [[Division of Hume|Member for Hume]], 2013-2013–
* [[Alex Hawke]] MP, Member for Mitchell<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.alexhawke.com.au/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=238&Itemid=277 |title=About Alex |publisher=Alexhawke.com.au |date= |accessdate=2 October 2012-10-02}}</ref>
* [[Mitch Fifield]], Australian Senator<ref name="crikey1"/>
* [[Dominic Perrottet]] MP, [[Premier of New South Wales]], Member for Castle Hill<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.dominicperrottet.com.au/AboutDominic/Biography.aspx |title=Dominic Perrottet MP > About Dominic > Biography |publisher=Dominicperrottet.com.au |access-date=2 October 2012 |accessdateurl-status=2012dead |archive-10url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010231814/http://www.dominicperrottet.com.au/AboutDominic/Biography.aspx |archive-02date=10 October 2012 }}</ref>
* [[Don Harwin]] MLC, President of the NSW Legislative Council<ref>{{cite webNSW Parliament |urlid=http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/members.nsf/0/BF445767C11948774A2567630004FE4E13 |titlename=The Hon. (Don) Donald Thomas HARWIN, BEc(Hons)Harwin MLC |publisheraccessdate=Parliament.nsw.gov.au2 |date=April |accessdate=2012-10-022019}}</ref>
* [[Peter Phelps (politician)|Peter Phelps]] MLC, Government WhipMember inof the NSW Legislative Council, 2011-2019<ref>{{citeCite NSW Parliament web|urlid=http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/Prod/parlment/members.nsf/V3AllMembers/317789 |titlename=The Hon. Dr Peter PHELPS, MLC |publisherformer=Parliament.nsw.gov.auYes |access-date=2011-05-045 |accessdate=2012-10-02April 2019}}</ref>
* [[Natasha Maclaren-Jones]] MLC, Member of NSW Legislative Council
* [[Marie Ficarra]] MLC, Member of NSW Legislative Council
* [[Jim Carlton]] AO, Minister for Health, 1982-19831982–1983
* [[Don Hayward]], Victorian Minister for Education 1992-961992–96
* [[Sandy Dawson]] SC, prominent Australian media and defamation barrister
==See also==
{{Portal|Conservatism}}
*[[Australian Liberal Students' Federation]]
*[[University of Tasmania Liberal Club]]
== References ==
{{reflistReflist}}
==External links==
*[http://www.sulc.com.au Sydney University Liberal Club website]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20070202102614/http://www.alsf.org.au/ ALSF homepage]
*[https://archive.today/20130208222727/http://www.usuonline.com/Find_a_Club/clubpage/?ClubID=44 SULC at USU]
{{University of Sydney}}
{{NUS}}
{{Authority control}}
[[Category:Student politics in Australia]]