Claims students have hijacked UQ union funds to pay for war protests

A University of Queensland environmental group funded by student fees has been infiltrated by war protesters and its budget used to fund pro-Palestinian protests, some students claim.

A Facebook post on the UQ Environment collective Facebook page. Photo: supplied

A University of Queensland environmental group funded by student fees has been infiltrated by war protesters and its budget used to fund pro-Palestinian protests, some students claim.

Some of the UQ Union Environment Collective’s $60,000 budget, which is funded in part by university services and amenities fees to promote sustainability on campus, has instead been funnelled into activism for socialist groups including pro-Palestinian protests, with claims film screenings are used to funnel money back into socialist groups.

Student and UQU councillor Barclay McGain has raised concerns about how groups were using student funds, claiming the environment group was a cover for activism. These claims were denied by the group.

“This year, the environment group budget was approved to be $59,000 and the frustrating thing is that the UQ Union executive is a joint ticket between Labor left and … the Socialist Alternative,” Mr McGain said.

“We raised valid concerns about the itemised breakdown of what the environmental collective was spending.”

UQ Environment collective calling for the removal of all Australian flags on UQU buildings and events on their facebook page. Photo: supplied

A former UQU Environment group member who wished to remain anonymous claimed Socialist Alternative members had hijacked the environment group to funnel money back into the Socialist group.

“I was told explicitly that the collective was used by the group to promote Socialist Alternative’s causes,” the former member claimed.

“They recruit through the (environment) collective by advertising some of their meetings as environment collective meetings.

“They ask them what they think of capitalism, bring up that they believe capitalism is destroying the planet, and invite you to one of their actual meetings.”

The student said the group runs movie screenings to funnel money back into the Socialist Alternative Group.

An internal UQU budget document revealed $849 was spent on “day of action against war” and a further $1550 spent on film screenings.

Environment Collective organiser Ella Gutteridge, who also headed up the Students 4 Palestine movement, said the claims were untrue.

“I’ve never heard about this before, and it is a total fabrication,” Ms Gutteridge said.

“Our budget and spending is not approved by us, its approved separately by the treasurer of the union, and we have never used this money for Socialist Alternative.

“The UQ Union has never moved any money into Socialist Alternative.

“The Environment Collective doesn’t charge money for any events or services either.”

The UQU website lists the environment group for students, staff and the general public, to promote sustainable practices on campus, and fight for the Great Barrier Reef.

“The UQU Environment Collective is committed to encouraging sustainable practices on campus, promoting greater awareness of, and increasing students’ interaction with Queensland’s native flora and fauna as well as promoting a clean and green St. Lucia,” the UQU website says.

The group’s Facebook page features posts calling to “stop Labor’s attacks on refugees, stop the migration amendment bill” and promotions for screenings of a war documentary Coconut Revolution in January.

The group was also listed as the organiser of a Facebook invitation for a “no pride in Genocide: Jacinta Price” event.

UQ Environment collective run by extremist group posts on their facebook page. Photo: supplied

In another Facebook post, the group also called for the removal of all Australian flags on UQU buildings and events.

“Student unions should promote resistance to the status quo not allegiance to the government,” the post in February said.

“While the content of the motion was voted up, student members of the Labor Party edited our motion to remove the parts about the flag.”

Associate Professor at The University of Queensland Yoni Nazarathy said the university had allowed external radicals to lead and take part in disruptions of learning and research.

“Such mismanagement of core university business negatively affects the whole university community. UQ has failed to protect students and staff,” Prof Nazarathy said.

The Student Services and Amenities Fee is $30 per unit with an annual limit of $365 to help provide students services, support and amenities – student fees which were added to students’ HECS debt in most cases.

In the last UQU budget internal document released to the Courier Mail showed SSAF funding had increased to $7.91m with the allocation of SSAF fees going towards UQU unions up from 45 to 50 per cent in the last year.

The UQU council – a democratically elected body of 23 students – were responsible for approving the budget for UQU executives.

A University of Queensland spokesman said the university has a robust framework to manage the allocation.

The UQ Treasurer was contacted for comment.

Originally published as Claims students have hijacked UQ union funds to pay for war protests