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13771 motions

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  • That we support Australia increasing GST to 15% of all goods and services as part of a revenue neutral tax reform package

    Infoslide

    GST is a 10% value-added tax on most goods and services. Under the status quo, there are some exclusions for essential goods (e.g. basic food items and healthcare)

    UNSW Pre-Australs 2025 · Round 1 · 2025-06-21

  • That, as the Democrats, we would make the PRO Act the central policy platform of our mid-term strategy in 2026

    Infoslide

    The Richard L. Trumka Protecting the Right to Organize Act, or PRO Act, is a proposed United States law that would substantially increasing protection for unions and union organising and increasing penalties for union-busting activities.

    UNSW Pre-Australs 2025 · Round 3 · 2025-06-21

  • That we oppose the growing trend of major US companies incorporating in states like Texas and Nevada (e.g. Tesla, DropBox and TripAdvisor).

    Infoslide

    Traditionally, Delaware has been the most popular US State for companies to incorporate. Delaware has a dedicated commercial court (The Delaware Court of Chancery) and a large body of precedent. Recently, firms have shifted their incorporation to Nevada and Texas instead. This is due to a series of high-profile cases against companies such as Tesla. 

    UNSW Pre-Australs 2025 · Round 2 · 2025-06-21

  • That we believe the legal standard for consent should be based on affirmative consent rather than sexual harm

    Infoslide

    For the purposes of this debate, in an affirmative consent standard, the key question regarding the lawfulness of a sexual act is whether clear consent (e.g. verbal "yes" or physical act like nodding) was given. In a sexual harm standard, two requirements must be met for the sexual act to be lawful. First, the act was reasonably consented to given the context and power relationships involved. A lack of affirmative consent does not necessarily mean that the person did not consent, and the presence of affirmative consent is not sufficient to ensure consent. Second, the act did not cause sexual harm.

    UNSW Pre-Australs 2025 · Round 4 · 2025-06-21

  • That we prefer a world where all criminal organisations adopted a franchise model instead of a hierarchical model

    Infoslide

    A franchise model of organised crime involves a central organisation granting semi-autonomous groups or individuals the right to operate under its brand, rules, or methods. These franchises pay fees or share profits with the central body, maintaining operational independence. A hierarchical model of organised crime features a pyramid-like structure with a centralised leadership.

    UNSW Pre-Australs 2025 · Round 5 · 2025-06-21

  • That, as Paul, Weiss, we regret our capitulation to the Trump Administration

    Infoslide

    In 2024, Paul, Weiss (law firm) faced backlash after reportedly backing out of pro bono work defending democracy-related causes, following pressure from Donald Trump and his allies. Trump allegedly threatened to withhold future business from the firm and its corporate clients. In response, Paul, Weiss agreed to provide $40 million in pro bono work for Trump-backed causes, scrap its DEI policies, and denounce a former partner in exchange for restored federal access.

    UNSW Pre-Australs 2025 · Round 3 · 2025-06-21

  • This House believes that it is in the interest of the Republican Party to impeach Donald Trump.

    Infoslide

    On June 21, 2025, the President of the United States of America, Donald Trump, conducted an attack on Iran. The action can be seen as a violation of the War Powers Act, an American law that requires the president to seek permission from Congress to enter into war.

    Campeonato Mundial de Debates em Língua Portuguesa 2025 · Quartas de final · 2025-06-19

  • This house prefers the university-governance system over the researcher-governance system within universities

    Infoslide

    There are two systems for corporate sponsorship of research in universities. In a university-governance system, the university manages the commercialization process, with companies providing large-scale grants and partnering directly with the institution, which then respectively distributes funding to researchers. In contrast, in a researcher-governance system, companies fund researchers directly through giving grants to specific research or hiring and compensating faculty while they continue to operate within the university.

    Guangzhou United Asian Debating Championships 2025 · Round 1 · 2025-06-17

  • This house would criminalise all cultural practices that obligate women to renounce their inheritance rights (e.g. giving family wealth to the eldest son in some rich European families, taking land from widows in some African communities, Muslim women accepting less inheritance than men, etc.)

    Guangzhou United Asian Debating Championships 2025 · Round 6 · 2025-06-17

  • This house prefers a world where the two-kingdoms doctrine was the dominant Christian worldview

    Infoslide

    The traditional ontological belief in Christianity is predicated by a hierarchical theory of structure, where authority flowed from the top down, and laws—both moral and civil—were seen as expressions of this divinely ordained structure, with the church playing a central role in interpreting God’s will and enforcing moral order. In contrast, the Two-Kingdoms doctrine holds that there is a separation between the divine and the earthly. In this view, all people and institutions in the earthly realm are equal in nature and authority. Law in the earthly kingdom is judged by human reason and justice rather than divine hierarchy, and no person or institution mediates another’s relationship with God.

    Guangzhou United Asian Debating Championships 2025 · EFL Finals · 2025-06-17

  • This house would disallow district level courts from issuing nationwide injunctions in the United States of America

    Infoslide

    In the USA, nationwide injunctions are court orders that bind the federal government, even in its relations with non-parties in a lawsuit, to stop enforcing a law or regulation. It stops the government from acting in a particular way nationwide, regardless of the specific geographic location of the lawsuit.

    Guangzhou United Asian Debating Championships 2025 · Round 2 · 2025-06-17

  • This house opposes the European Union's recent anti-trust crackdown on the US Big Tech Giants

    Infoslide

    In March 2025, the European Union intensified its antitrust actions against major U.S. tech giants (eg. Apple, Meta, etc.) for alleged violations of the Digital Markets Act. The DMA prohibits self-preferencing and requires interoperability. The companies face fines of up to 10% of their global revenue (20% for repeated violations) along with multiple lawsuits.

    Guangzhou United Asian Debating Championships 2025 · Round 7 · 2025-06-17

  • This house believes that the Japanese feminist movement should support the criminalization of Enjo kōsai

    Infoslide

    Enjo kōsai is a type of transactional relationship where older men give money and/or luxury gifts to attractive young women in exchange for sexual favors in Japan. While Enjo kōsai is not explicitly illegal, Japanese laws prohibit paying a person under 18 for obscene acts and juvenile delinquency.

    Guangzhou United Asian Debating Championships 2025 · Round 6 · 2025-06-17

  • This house opposes litigation finance in class action lawsuits

    Infoslide

    Litigation finance refers to the practice of outside investors funding legal claims in exchange for a share of the proceeds if the case is successful. These funders cover legal costs such as attorney fees, expert witnesses, discovery, etc. Typical funders include hedge funds, private equity firms, and specialized litigation finance companies (e.g., Burford Capital, Omni Bridgeway).

    Guangzhou United Asian Debating Championships 2025 · Round 2 · 2025-06-17