Above: 2025 SRC Induction, with Matthew Jeffrey on far right. Photo: UNSA LinkedIn

The University of Newcastle Student Association (UNSA) is in strife after Matthew Jeffrey, at the time President of the Student Representative Council (SRC), was removed from his position. The Student Representative Council is a representative body which is part of UNSA, and is made up of officers elected by students, to represent students to the university, the student association, and related stakeholders.

Jeffrey was removed after an investigation into his academic performance, which has allegedly made him ineligible to sit on the council. When asked for comment, UNSA CEO Mark Trevaskis provided Yak with a press statement from UNSA citing the Terms of Reference.

Terms of Reference 6 states: To be eligible for membership on the SRC, at the opening of nominations, a person must satisfy the criteria below. These requirements are important means for the Company [UNSA] to verify the integrity and qualifications of potential representatives.

(f) Maintain good academic standing in accordance with the University’s Academic Progress Expectations and be able to commit to both their studies and UNSA for the duration of their term;

(i) Not be subject to academic, non-academic or research probation, suspension or exclusion throughout their term of appointment.

As Matthew Jeffrey faces down an academic suspension, UNSA views him as no longer eligible for the position.

Jeffrey had allegedly attempted to file a request to appeal the decision, and told Yak that the decision to remove him was made “with no appeal or place to present my [Jeffrey’s] case, without first putting it to voting members [of UNSA] or the SRC”. Jeffrey also claims that contrary to accusations, he is still a student at the university, and therefore is eligible to remain on the SRC. Jeffrey also claims to still be the legitimate President/Chair of the SRC.

Much of the strife around Jeffrey’s removal centres around whether or not it is constitutional to do so.

Section 42.2 of UNSA’s constitution states: The directors cannot remove a director or auditor. Directors and auditors may only be removed by a voting members’ resolution at a general meeting.

Jeffrey and his supporters allege that his removal was illegitimate due to this section of the constitution, which states that directors (members of the SRC, etc) can only be removed via a voted upon resolution at a general meeting. Since no such meeting took place, therefore, they claim it was not possible for Jeffrey to be removed from his position on the SRC.

An open letter circulated by Jeffrey and his supporters, demanding Jeffrey’s formal reinstatement as president and the removal of academic performance as reason for termination (as per the Terms of Reference), has received almost 100 signatures and counting.

Jeffrey has since spoken to the Newcastle Herald.

This is a developing story.