ACT takes the freedom of the individual as one of the ultimate ends that society should pursue. What does this mean? It means, at its fundamental level, that relationships between individuals in society should be based on consent – that they should be based on voluntary cooperation.
In a free society, individuals should be free to choose for themselves whether to join any association. We are free to join a residents’ association, the local tennis club, or the Automobile Association. Over time, Parliament has reversed many of the laws that forced individuals to associate with different groups.
However, there is one group of individuals that is still forced to join an association. There is one group of individuals whose money is forcibly removed in order to fund the associations they are forced to join. Every year, students around the country are forced into students’ associations. Many of these organisations undertake partisan political activities; many of them waste student resources; and in some instances, some associations defraud students of the money they are forced to give.
Freedom of association is an individual freedom that is meant to be protected by the New Zealand Bill of Rights Act. It’s time to live up to that promise and end the compulsory membership of students’ associations.
Freedom of association protects not only individuals, but also the groups of individuals within society who wish to voluntarily join hands and work together towards common goals. Associations which are not truly representative of their members' convictions and free choice are meaningless bodies – the mere plaything of those who control them – rather than valid forms of representation.
ACT is not opposed to students’ associations. If you want to get a group together to advocate for nutty policies, go for it: the Green Party are doing alright. If you want to provide services to your members, go for it: the Automobile Association do it.
Indeed, if students' associations really do such an amazing job, then many students will voluntarily join them.
