![SULC Logo](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/56/SULC_Logo.jpg)
The Sydney University Liberal Club (SULC) is a student association operating under the auspices of the
University of Sydney Union
The University of Sydney Union (USU), established in 1874, is the student-run services and amenities provider at the University of Sydney in Sydney, Australia. The USU's key services include the provision of food and beverages, retail outlets ...
(USU). The club hosts policy debates, annual dinners, student election campaigns, and guest speaker events with members of parliament. It is an affiliate of the
Australian Liberal Students' Federation
The Australian Liberal Students' Federation (ALSF) is an Australian students' political organisation. Founded in 1948, the ALSF carries similar ideology to the Liberal Party of Australia. The Federation works closely with the Liberal Party, howe ...
.
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.
The Patron of the Sydney University Liberal Club is Former Prime Minister 1996–2007,
John Howard
John Winston Howard (born 26 July 1939) is an Australian former politician who served as the 25th prime minister of Australia from 1996 to 2007, holding office as leader of the Liberal Party. His eleven-year tenure as prime minister is the s ...
. Whilst historically the Liberal Club claimed two state delegates within the
Liberal Party
The Liberal Party is any of many political parties around the world. The meaning of ''liberal'' varies around the world, ranging from liberal conservatism on the right to social liberalism on the left.
__TOC__ Active liberal parties
This is a li ...
, the club itself is no longer formally affiliated with the Party.
The club attracted attention for its early opposition to the
White Australia policy
The White Australia policy is a term encapsulating a set of historical policies that aimed to forbid people of non-European ethnic origin, especially Asians (primarily Chinese) and Pacific Islanders, from immigrating to Australia, starting i ...
. 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."
A defining debate in the club over the past 30 years has been
Voluntary Student Unionism
Voluntary student unionism (VSU), as it is known in Australia, or voluntary student membership (VSM), as it is known in New Zealand, is a policy under which membership of – and payment of membership fees to – university student organisations ...
(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.
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.
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.
Each year the grand finals features an adjudication and keynote address by
John Howard
John Winston Howard (born 26 July 1939) is an Australian former politician who served as the 25th prime minister of Australia from 1996 to 2007, holding office as leader of the Liberal Party. His eleven-year tenure as prime minister is the s ...
, and adjudications by notable conservatives like
Tony Abbott
Anthony John Abbott (; born 4 November 1957) is a former Australian politician who served as the 28th prime minister of Australia from 2013 to 2015. He held office as the leader of the Liberal Party of Australia.
Abbott was born in Londo ...
,
Malcolm Turnbull
Malcolm Bligh Turnbull (born 24 October 1954) is an Australian former politician and businessman who served as the 29th prime minister of Australia from 2015 to 2018. He held office as leader of the Liberal Party of Australia.
Turnbull grad ...
,
Janet Albrechtsen
Janet Kim Albrechtsen (born 23 September 1966) is an Australian opinion columnist with ''The Australian.'' From 2005 until 2010, she was a member of the board of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Australia's public broadcaster.
Early life ...
,
Piers Akerman
Piers Akerman (born 12 June 1950) is an Australian columnist and conservative commentator for the Sydney newspaper ''The Daily Telegraph''.
Biography
Akerman was born in Wewak, Papua New Guinea, the third son in a family of four children of J ...
,
Alexander Downer
Alexander John Gosse Downer (born 9 September 1951) is an Australian former politician and diplomat who was leader of the Liberal Party from 1994 to 1995, Minister for Foreign Affairs from 1996 to 2007, and High Commissioner to the United King ...
,
Natasha Maclaren-Jones
Natasha Marianne Maclaren-Jones (born 11 March 1976) is an Australian politician, and is a Liberal Party member of the New South Wales Legislative Council since March 2011. Maclaren-Jones has served as the Minister for Families and Communities ...
,
Tom Switzer, and
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
*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
''The Sydney Morning Herald'' (''SMH'') is a daily compact newspaper published in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, and owned by Nine. Founded in 1831 as the ''Sydney Herald'', the ''Herald'' is the oldest continuously published newspaper i ...
'' 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. This prompted allegations of 'strong conservatism', and claims that it risked the Liberal Party's reputation as "a broad church", even though these motions failed to pass or to attract any significant support.
In 2009, the club drew controversy in ''
The Australian
''The Australian'', with its Saturday edition, ''The Weekend Australian'', is a broadsheet newspaper published by News Corp Australia since 14 July 1964.Bruns, Axel. "3.1. The active audience: Transforming journalism from gatekeeping to gatew ...
'' after a hostile takeover attempt by the "far-right" was quashed at an Annual General Meeting chaired by
David Clarke MLC, and attended by
Marie Ficarra
Marie Ann Ficarra (born 25 March 1954) is an Australian politician who was a Liberal Party member of the New South Wales Legislative Council from 2007 to 2015. She was previously a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for George ...
MLC and
Dominic Perrottet
Dominic Francis Perrottet ( ; born 21 September 1982) is an Australian politician who is currently serving as the 46th premier of New South Wales and leader of the New South Wales division of the Liberal Party of Australia. He assumed office ...
MP. An investigation by the Liberal Party ensued after allegations of threatening behaviour towards young members of the club; police were also called to the incident.
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. The Ordinary Meeting was subsequently disbanded by security, and a scheduled Annual General Meeting was postponed until September by the
University of Sydney Union
The University of Sydney Union (USU), established in 1874, is the student-run services and amenities provider at the University of Sydney in Sydney, Australia. The USU's key services include the provision of food and beverages, retail outlets ...
(USU). The stacking was instigated by then club President Adrian Pryke after his defection to the hard-right.
The club has also been a major contributor to the "Make Education Fair" campaign, headed by the
Young Liberals. This campaign was created with the stated purpose of exposing and reducing political bias throughout all levels of education. A Senate enquiry conducted to examine this potential bias saw many club members provide evidence.
In 2016 the club had a split in membership over a contentious upcoming SULC election between the President and Secretary. Amid concerns about vote-stacking, non-students registering to vote, and other issues, the University of Sydney dissolved the entire membership and required all members to re-apply in person.
On 23 September 2012, SULC hosted its annual President's Dinner with a keynote address by Sydney radio presenter
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" in reference to Prime Minister,
Julia Gillard
Julia Eileen Gillard (born 29 September 1961) is an Australian former politician who served as the 27th prime minister of Australia from 2010 to 2013, holding office as leader of the Australian Labor Party (ALP). She is the first and only ...
'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
Clover Margaret Moore (née Collins, born 22 October 1945) is an Australian politician. She has been the List of Mayors and Lord Mayors of Sydney, Lord Mayor of the City of Sydney since 2004 and is currently the longest serving Lord Mayor of Syd ...
, Julia Gillard and Bob Brown should be "put into a chaff bag, thrown out to sea and made to swim back".
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.
Past Presidents
Notable alumni
*
Malcolm Turnbull
Malcolm Bligh Turnbull (born 24 October 1954) is an Australian former politician and businessman who served as the 29th prime minister of Australia from 2015 to 2018. He held office as leader of the Liberal Party of Australia.
Turnbull grad ...
MP, 29th
Prime Minister of Australia
The prime minister of Australia is the head of government of the Commonwealth of Australia. The prime minister heads the executive branch of the Australian Government, federal government of Australia and is also accountable to Parliament of A ...
, 2015–2018, Minister of Communications 2013–2015, Leader of the Opposition 2008–2009
*
John Howard
John Winston Howard (born 26 July 1939) is an Australian former politician who served as the 25th prime minister of Australia from 1996 to 2007, holding office as leader of the Liberal Party. His eleven-year tenure as prime minister is the s ...
AC, 25th Prime Minister of Australia 1996–2007
*
Joe Hockey
Joseph Benedict Hockey (born 2 August 1965) is a former Australian politician and diplomat.
He was the Member of Parliament for North Sydney from 1996 until 2015. He was the Treasurer of Australia in the Abbott Government from 18 September 2 ...
MP, 38th
Treasurer of Australia
The Treasurer of Australia (or Federal Treasurer) is a high ranking official and senior minister of the Crown in the Government of Australia who is the head of the Ministry of the Treasury which is responsible for government expenditure and ...
2013–
*
Mike Baird
Michael Bruce Baird (born 1 April 1968) is an Australian investment banker and former politician who was the 44th Premier of New South Wales, the Minister for Infrastructure, the Minister for Western Sydney, and the Leader of the New South W ...
MP, 44th
Premier of New South Wales
The premier of New South Wales is the head of government in the state of New South Wales, Australia. The Government of New South Wales follows the Westminster Parliamentary System, with a Parliament of New South Wales acting as the legislature. ...
, 2014–2017
*
John Brogden, Leader of the NSW Opposition 2002–2005
*
Kerry Chikarovski
Kerry Anne Chikarovski (née Bartels; 4 April 1956) is a former Australian politician who served as leader of the Liberal Party in New South Wales and Leader of the Opposition between 1998 and 2002, the first woman to hold the post.
Early li ...
, Leader of the NSW Opposition 1998–2002
*
Neville Wran
Neville Kenneth Wran, (11 October 1926 – 20 April 2014) was an Australian politician who was the Premier of New South Wales from 1976 to 1986. He was the national president of the Australian Labor Party (ALP) from 1980 to 1986 and chairman of ...
, Premier of NSW, 1976–1986
*
Tony Abbott
Anthony John Abbott (; born 4 November 1957) is a former Australian politician who served as the 28th prime minister of Australia from 2013 to 2015. He held office as the leader of the Liberal Party of Australia.
Abbott was born in Londo ...
MP, 28th
Prime Minister of Australia
The prime minister of Australia is the head of government of the Commonwealth of Australia. The prime minister heads the executive branch of the Australian Government, federal government of Australia and is also accountable to Parliament of A ...
, ''2013 – 2015''-
*
Ted McWhinney
Edward Watson "Ted" McWhinney, QC (May 19, 1924 – May 19, 2015) was a Canadian lawyer and academic specializing in constitutional and international law. He was a Liberal Party Member of Parliament from 1993 to 2000 for the electoral district of ...
, Member for Vancouver Quadra (Canada) 1993–2000
*
Paul Fletcher MP, Member for Bradfield
*
Angus Taylor MP,
Member for Hume, 2013–
*
Alex Hawke
Alexander George Hawke (born 9 July 1977) is an Australian politician who served as Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs from 2020 to 2022 in the Morrison Government. Hawke has served as Member of ...
MP, Member for Mitchell
*
Mitch Fifield
Mitchell Peter Fifield (born 16 January 1967) is the Permanent Representative of Australia to the United Nations. He is a former Australian politician who served as a Senator for Victoria from 2004 to 2019, representing the Liberal Party. He wa ...
, Australian Senator
*
Dominic Perrottet
Dominic Francis Perrottet ( ; born 21 September 1982) is an Australian politician who is currently serving as the 46th premier of New South Wales and leader of the New South Wales division of the Liberal Party of Australia. He assumed office ...
MP,
Premier of New South Wales
The premier of New South Wales is the head of government in the state of New South Wales, Australia. The Government of New South Wales follows the Westminster Parliamentary System, with a Parliament of New South Wales acting as the legislature. ...
, Member for Castle Hill
*
Don Harwin
Donald Thomas Harwin (born 5 July 1964) is an Australian politician. He was the New South Wales Special Minister of State and the Minister for the Public Service and Employee Relations, Aboriginal Affairs, and the Arts in the second Berejiklian ...
MLC, President of the NSW Legislative Council
*
Peter Phelps
Peter Phelps (born 20 September 1960 in Sydney) is an Australian actor, singer and writer. He is notable for his role as Trevor Cole in ''Baywatch''. Phelps is also known for his roles in the internationally successful Australian series '' So ...
Member of the NSW Legislative Council, 2011-2019
*
Natasha Maclaren-Jones
Natasha Marianne Maclaren-Jones (born 11 March 1976) is an Australian politician, and is a Liberal Party member of the New South Wales Legislative Council since March 2011. Maclaren-Jones has served as the Minister for Families and Communities ...
MLC, Member of NSW Legislative Council
*
Marie Ficarra
Marie Ann Ficarra (born 25 March 1954) is an Australian politician who was a Liberal Party member of the New South Wales Legislative Council from 2007 to 2015. She was previously a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for George ...
MLC, Member of NSW Legislative Council
*
Jim Carlton
James Joseph Carlton (13 May 193524 December 2015) was an Australian businessman, politician, and humanitarian.
Early life
Carlton was born in Sydney and earned a Bachelor of Science from the University of Sydney.
Early career
Carlton’s ...
AO, Minister for Health, 1982–1983
*
Don Hayward
Donald James Hayward (30 June 1925 – 16 February 1999) was a Welsh international prop who played club rugby for Newbridge and Wigan RLFC. He won 15 caps for Wales, and was selected to play in the British Lions on the 1950 tour of Austral ...
, Victorian Minister for Education 1992–96
See also
*
Australian Liberal Students' Federation
The Australian Liberal Students' Federation (ALSF) is an Australian students' political organisation. Founded in 1948, the ALSF carries similar ideology to the Liberal Party of Australia. The Federation works closely with the Liberal Party, howe ...
*
Adelaide University Liberal Club
The Adelaide University Liberal Club (AULC) is a student group operating under the auspices of the Adelaide University Union (AUU). The club hosts policy debates, annual dinners, student election campaigns, and guest speaker events with members of ...
*
University of Tasmania Liberal Club
The University of Tasmania Liberal Club (TULC) is a politically affiliated club based at the University of Tasmania. The club is closely tied with the Liberal Party of Australia and at times through its history has been a constitutional branch of ...
References
External links
Sydney University Liberal Club websiteALSF homepageSULC at USU
{{Authority control
Student politics in Australia
University of Sydney
1933 establishments in Australia
Student organisations in Australia
Student organizations established in 1933
Student political organizations
Organisations based in Sydney