Australasian Intervarsity Debating Championships

Bali Australs 2019

R1

That the United States should adopt a single payer insurance scheme instead of offering a public option in the private insurance market.

Single-payer is a more general term used to describe a government-funded and run system in which everyone gets health care from one insurer. The ‘public option’ is a proposal to create a government-run health insurance agency that would compete with other private health insurance companies within the United States.

That progressive politicians in the United States should boycott Fox News.

That the Democratic party should elect a centrist candidate for the upcoming United States presidential election.

R2

That we should use predictive data to assess the age at which individuals should qualify for retirement pension payments, rather than a standardised retirement age.

Data about their type of occupation, age, gender, and the health status of individuals can be regularly updated and used to predict when they are likely to be no longer physically capable of working.

That we support greater restrictions on migrants’ access to civic rights (welfare, healthcare, voting rights, etc.) in exchange for more open immigration.

That we should allow parents to raise babies behind bars.

R3

That the international community should recognize Somaliland as an independent and sovereign nation.

That, as Sudan’s Transitional Military Council (TMC), we would hand Omar al-Bashir over to the International Criminal Court.

Thousands of protesters took to the streets of Sudan in December 2018 and protests are still ongoing. It led to the removal of Omar al-Bashir from power, who had ruled Sudan with an iron fist for 3 decades. The Transitional Military Council (TMC) was set up, which promised elections in around a year. However, most of the protesters are not satisfied, and have continued to protest because they want an immediate transition to civilian rule. The TMC ‘arrested’ Omar al-Bashir, but he has been kept in very comfortable conditions and protesters suspect it is just a ruse.

Assuming the Sudanese civilians manage to take power from the military, That the new civilian government should revert to its pre-1970 flag.

The current flag of Sudan was adopted on 20 May 1970. The flag is based on the Arab Liberation Flag shared by Egypt, Iraq, Syria and Yemen that uses a subset of the Pan-Arab colours, symbolising a shift towards Pan-Arabism. Prior to the 1969 military coup of Gaafar Nimeiry, a blue-yellow-green tricolour design was used. The colours of the flag represented the River Nile (blue), the Sahara (yellow) and farmlands (green). They were chosen as they were neutral between ethnic groups and political parties.

R4

That, as an evangelical conservative leader in a red/swing state, we should endorse a third party candidate (such as Evan McMullan) instead of Donald Trump.

That we regret the commercialisation of cultural/religious festivals.

That you should start a new religion.

You live in a patriarchal and conservative society. You believe that the fastest way to get change would be to claim God spoke to you and anoint yourself prophet of a new religion. You have confidence you will amass a strong set of followers. The only way to ensure success however, is to claim that what God said to you is final, and this is the absolute best version of moral laws.

R5

That we should ban the short-selling of shares.

Shorting, or short-selling, is when an investor borrows shares and immediately sells them, hoping he or she can scoop them up later at a lower price, return them to the lender and pocket the difference.

That we should force large companies to be fully publicly listed.

That self-described ‘socially responsible investors’ should engage in shareholder activism with companies that have poor ethical records rather than excluding them from their portfolios.

Shareholder activism involves engaging with companies in order to positively influence their behaviour.

R6

That we regret the prominent usage of self-deprecating humour by female comedians.

That we support the #OwnVoices campaign that says authors should only write from the perspective of their own lived experiences and stories.

That minority movements should abandon the strategy of ‘reclaiming’ words used as slurs.

R7

That, as an Islamic political party in a democracy (e.g. PAS in Malaysia, National Awakening Party PKB in Indonesia, Jamaat e Islami in Pakistan and Bangladesh) we would abandon an agenda of Islamic political reform and focus instead on provision of social services.

That, as Qatar, we would abandon all attempts to reconcile with the Saudi coalition.

That India should remove Articles 35A and 370 of the Indian Constitution.

Section 35A of the Indian Constitution gives special protections to the legislature of Indian-controlled Kashmir. Specifically, it allows the legislature of that state to define who is a resident of the state of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), and prevent non-residents of the state from acquiring land within the state or settling there. Section 370 of the Constitution gives the state full autonomy from the central government on all issues other than defence, foreign affairs and communications. Together, these two sections make Kashmir functionally autonomous. J&K is the only Muslim-majority state in India.

R8

That we should abolish cash bail and replace it with an algorithmic risk assessment.

‘Cash bail’ refers to leaving a sum of money with police departments in order to be released from jail after being charged with a crime but before the verdict; if you do not comply with a set of conditions including returning to face the trial, the money is forfeited. If a suspect cannot pay bail they are not released. ‘Algorithmic risk assessment’ is when a formula calculates the probability of a plaintiff’s return to face trial, and only releases them if that probability is above a certain, defined threshold.

That reputational damage should not be a mitigating factor in criminal sentencing.

OF

That, as China, we would suspend rare earth mineral exports to the United States in response to the trade war.

That, as Hong Kong, we would prefer having remained under British rule rather than reverting to China.

That, as the Chinese Communist Party, we would officially acknowledge and express regret for the Tiananmen massacre.

QF

That social media platforms should be held legally part-liable for hosted content that passes a certain threshold of ‘clout’ (e.g. pageviews).

That we oppose the development of implantable Direct Cortical Interfaces.

A “”Direct Cortical Interface”” (DCI) is a brain-machine interface that aims to connect humans to computers. While the technology for DCIs remains in its infancy, if developed, DCIs potentially allow humans to reach higher levels of cognition.

That we prefer a world where digital anonymity is and was the norm.

Open/ESL SF

That we regret the impeachment of Dilma Rousseff in Brazil.

Dilma Rousseff was the president of Brazil from 2011 until her impeachment in 2016. She represented the Workers’ Party (PT), a democratic socialist party responsible for a number of progressive reforms in Brazil such as mass expansion of the country’s welfare system after they took power in 2003. In 2016 she was impeached by parliament on grounds of corruption. At the 2018 elections, Brazil elected Jair Bolsonaro as president.

That we support federalism in the Philippines.

The Philippines has 17 administrative regions of various ethnicities and cultures. It is a Christian-majority country, with a small Muslim population. Most Muslims live in parts of Mindanao, Palawan, and the Sulu Archipelago. Currently power is concentrated in the central government. However, there is a strong push towards federalism, allowing the 17 provinces greater autonomy over their respective regions. One of the largest proponents of increased federalism is President Rodrigo Duterte, who made it one of his major campaign promises back in 2016. Some political dynasties, Muslim groups, as well as allies of President Duterte are also in support of federalism.

That parliamentary democracies should have an upper house with randomly selected citizens.

An upper house is one of two chambers of a bicameral legislature (or one of three chambers of a tricameral legislature), the other chamber being the lower house. The house formally designated as the upper house is usually smaller and often has more restricted power than the lower house.

GF

That we regret the belief that there is inherent value in martyrdom.

That we regret the norm of parents financially supporting their children after they become adults.

That we regret the vilification of communism.

ESL GF

That the ICC should abolish the principle of complementarity.

The principle of complementarity means that the International Criminal Court(ICC) will only prosecute an individual if states are unwilling or unable to prosecute. Therefore, if legitimate national investigations or proceedings into crimes have taken place or are ongoing, the Court will not initiate proceedings. This principle applies regardless of the outcome of national proceedings. Even if an investigation is closed without any criminal charges being filed or if an accused person is acquitted by a national court, the Court will not prosecute an individual for the crime in question so long as it is satisfied that the national proceedings were legitimate.

That we should abolish the Common Agricultural Policy.

The Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) is the agricultural policy of the European Union. It implements a system of agricultural subsidies, tariffs and quotas on imports of agricultural goods into the EU, and market interventions to boost prices paid to farmers within the EU for agricultural products

That investment in sport should prioritise funding grassroots and community sports as opposed to elite athletes.

EFL GF

That wealthy environmentalists should purchase land and not allow mining or drilling on it, instead of donating to political campaigns for government regulations.

That activist groups against companies with poor ethical records that sell physical products (ie. Nike), should protest by stealing merchandise from stores, distributors and factories.

That climate change activists should exclusively focus on changing the behaviour of governments and big businesses (rather than campaigning for individuals to make small changes in their own lives).

Australs 2018

R1

That we should select the players of national sporting teams by public referendum.

That, as authorities such as the World Boxing Association and the Ultimate Fighting Championship, we would prohibit competitor trash talking.

That all world records in sports where doping was historically frequent should be wiped clean.

R2

That we regret the romanticisation of success stories in education.

That western countries should stop offering university scholarships to family members of ruling elites in developing countries.

That academic journals have an ethical responsibility to reject submissions that defend colonialism.

R3

That we should replace progressive income tax systems with a progressive Zakat system.

Zakat is an Islamic system of income redistribution where, each year, individuals have to pay a portion of their assets (including cash, property, and marketable securities) to the poor. It can also be collectively pooled and used for social welfare projects by the government.

That we support governments using social impact bonds to address social problems.

A Social Impact Bond is a funding model where governments arrange for private investors to fund a service provider to solve a social problem. The government only repays the investors if the project is successful. Metrics for success are set out in the original contract. If successful, the government repays the investors’ upfront investment plus an additional premium. Examples of social impact bonds include: In the US, Goldman Sachs bought a bond to reduce prisoner recidivism in New York, and will only receive a return if teenage recidivism is reduced by more than 10%. In Australia, the NSW Government arranged for investors to invest in a program that seeks to prevent family breakdown by keeping children in their families, rather than out of home care. The higher the rate of children staying in their families, the more the government repays the investors.

That we should cap the loan limits given by banks to the largest company to 10 times the loan limits given to the smallest company.

R4

That progressives should campaign for the right to polygamous marriage.

That we would prefer a world where everyone is gay.

That women over 50 should be banned from accessing IVF (in-vitro fertilisation) treatment.

R5

That we should abolish village councils in India.

India’s traditional village councils (panchayats) are local self-governance systems that operate in rural villages or remote small-towns. These Councils are comprised of local elders. They function as de-facto courts that adjudicate all disputes (civil and criminal) that arise within these villages and issue punishments at their own discretion.

That countries should impose tariffs on China in retaliation for the Made in China 2025 policy.

The Made in China 2025 policy is the Chinese Communist Party’s $US300 billion plan to heavily subsidise emerging manufacturing industries including robotics, autonomous cars, AI, biotech and aviation, in order to make China self sufficient in those sectors. There are also recurring concerns that China is pursuing this policy in part by stealing other countries’ intellectual property.

That, as UMNO, we should maintain our ethno-religious centric political platform.

United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) is Malaysia’s leading Opposition political party. They were the founding and largest members of the Barisan Nasional Coalition that ruled in Malaysia for over 50 years until the recent election. UMNO’s political platform has always been to privilege ethnic Malay-Muslims.

R6

That, as Disney, we would return to making animated films with darker themes.

Many films in the Disney Renaissance era featured dark story themes that are less present in Disney films today. For example, ‘The Hunchback of Notre Dame’ featured themes such as lust, infanticide, damnation and sin; ‘Pocahontas’ featured themes such as colonialism and murder; and ‘The Lion King’ featured a fairly visceral on-screen murder.

That we support fil, TV and literature that depicts historical events being resolved for the worse (eg. Germany winning WW2, the South winning the Civil War, etc.)

That entertainment platforms (eg. Spotify, Netflix) should remove works from entertainers who have committed immoral or criminal acts in their personal lives.

R7

That we prefer the portrayal of God as an imperfect being.

That businesses should be allowed to deny services to customers on religious grounds.

That we, as a religious leader, would focus on behaviour of the members of our religious organisation rather than the behaviour of non-members and broader social issues.

R8

That individuals convicted for crimes that were later legalised should be retroactively released from prison (If applicable), cleared of all charges and compensated.

That we should never prosecute individuals with low intellectual functioning.

That criminal justice policy should be outsourced to technocrats instead of elected representatives.

Double-OF

That we should impose term limits on political parties ruling federal governments (either singularly or in a coalition)

That the Democrats should actively prioritise fielding minority candidates in the 2018 mid-term elections.

That liberal European voters should abandon left-wing political parties and vote for centre-right parties instead.

OF

That we support pop culture icons (eg. Beyonce) celebrating Black Power groups (eg. the Black Panther Party & Black Liberation Army) in their work.

That we support the narrative that we should celebrate differences with other people, rather than find commonalities with them.

That we support the appropriation of cultural festivals (eg. Cinque de Mayo and Holy in the USA).

EFL/OPEN QF

That, assuming doctors could objectively quantify a patient’s pain on a scale of 0 to 10, they should be banned from prescribing painkillers to any patient below a 6 on the scale.

A pain scale measures a patient’s pain intensity. Pain scales are based on trust where a patient ‘self-reports’ the pain they feel on a scale of 0 to 10 to doctors, who then prescribe them painkillers accordingly.

That we should force pharmaceutical companies to allocate a percentage of their net income to research of critical diseases.

That we should allow insurance companies to offer the terminally ill a 50% rebate on expected costs of end-of-life care in exchange for forgoing that care.

EFL/OPEN SF

That the African Union should cap the use of cultivated land for non-food crops (eg. biofuels, timber) in all member states.

That the United States should re-enter Afghanistan to help the government regain control over lost territories.

That, as the United States, we should launch a global infrastructure investment project to rival China’s Belt and Road Initiative.

GF

That we support a narrative that one’s life has no inherent meaning, and that one creates it for themselves.

That, if it existed, we would support non-sentient artificial intelligence that imitated deceased loved ones in appearance, personality and mannerisms.

That we support a world government.

ESL GF

That we support developing nations marketing themselves as destinations for ‘good time tourism’.

‘Good time tourism’ refers to every form of tourism that allows tourists to engage in activities generally considered illegal or socially unacceptable elsewhere (e.g. prostitution, drugs, etc.).

That the environmental movement should renounce all ties to advocates for population control.

That we should legalise the sale of children.

EFL GF

Assuming it will not be discovered, that the media should declare the attacker as a white, non-Muslim individual.

[Context] There has been a terrorist attack in a major European city. The suicide bomber’s body has been discovered, but cannot be identified clearly as it has been badly damaged by the blast.

That Ukraine should censor Russia’s fake news instead of debunking it.

That we prefer a world where news institutions choose advertising instead of subscriptions as a revenue source.

UQ Australs 2017

R1

That we should require prospective parents to obtain a parenting licence prior to having children.

That we should allow pro-life organisations to pay women considering abortion to carry their pregnancies to term.

Assuming it is possible to copy the consciousness of the deceased onto another person, that we should allow the parents of deceased children to do so onto orphaned infants.

R2

That we should oppose fashion and beauty as tools of gendered self-expression (e.g. wearing of heels and makeup).

That we regret the trend away from valuing art for its technical qualities in favour of abstract characteristics (e.g. conceptual intent, contextual appreciation, uniqueness).

That you should not solve the murder in the remaining episodes.

You are the show runner of a murder mystery TV series on a major broadcasting channel. The plot for the show was to be 3 seasons long, with the murder to be solved near the end of the final season. The show receives critical acclaim and has a loyal core audience. However, it is not commercially successful, and midway through filming the 2nd season you are told it will not be renewed for a 3rd season.

R3

In countries with a quota for refugees, that governments should allow and facilitate citizens to offer asylum to additional refugees in their homes.

That progressive media in the Philippines should not self-censor coverage of extra-judicial killings where they involve victims with serious criminal histories (e.g. known drug lords).

That the West should provide international assistance to the North Korean regime for the exploration, extraction and development of Rare Earth Minerals (REM).

North Korea has up to 20 million tons of Rare Earth Mineral (REM) deposits, but does not have the technology to explore its reserves or to produce high-tech goods. REMs are necessary in technologies. Known REM reserves in the world are almost entirely located within China.

R4

That we should nationalise all residential housing.

That we should require professional sports leagues to require open entry and exit for new and existing franchises.

That we should cap lending to any individual, household or company below a maximum debt-to-income ratio.

A debt to income ratio is the ratio of debt an individual or entity holds relative to their income. For example, if I have $500,000 of debt and a salary of $100,000, my debt to income ratio is 5: 1.

R5

That we support a pedophile rights movement.

That we should abolish national representative sporting teams.

That we support a men’s rights movement.

R6

That all European Union member states should hold simultaneous referenda on their EU membership.

That we support China’s cap on foreign made films.

The Chinese Government caps the number of foreign made films commercially shown in China per year (34 films were shown in 2016). Films allowed under the cap are selected based on likely revenue (which is shared with Chinese Government) and whether the film portrays China in a positive light and/or incorporates elements of Chinese culture or Chinese actors.

That the Clintons should cease all engagement in US politics and public life.

R7

That we should ban individuals from self-harm as a form of religious penance.

That, in secular states, religiosity should be an aggravating factor in sentencing crimes which go against the teachings of the offender’s religion.

That anti-theists should donate to, and actively support progressive and/or liberal churches.

R8

That the state should compensate individuals who are found ‘not guilty’ at trial.

That mediation should be mandatory before initiating court proceedings in family law.

That all trials should be incorporeal trials.

An “Incorporeal trial” is a regular criminal/civil trial that abolishes physical hearings. The judge and/or jury will still preside over the case with documents and evidence submitted for the purpose of adjudication and sentencing. However, the lawyers, plaintiff and defendant are not physically present. Cross examination will be conducted via written text or voice recordings, and submitted as such.

ESL SF

That schools should prioritise teachers’ knowledge of their subject area over their knowledge of pedagogy and educational theory.

Pedagogy: Method and practice of teaching/learning

That, as a teacher, we should contradict curriculum that we believe will be harmful to society.

That we support the creation of body corporate/owners corporation/strata community in which owners are able to make prescriptive rules and regulations to live in the community, and can forcibly remove owners who do not comply.

ESL GF

That we should allow organ donors, or their families in case of death, the right to stipulate the recipient of an organ donation.

That we regret the assumption that people who work in community-based or care professions do so out of genuine emotional attachment (e.g that nurses care about their patients, or teachers about their students).

Open OF

That feminists should support the provision of wife bonuses in pre-nuptial agreements.

A ‘wife bonus’ is a provision in a pre-nuptial agreement which awards additional money to a woman on the execution of particular domestic achievements (e.g. keeping to a particular grocery budget, keeping a tidy house, getting the kids into a good school).

That we regret the concept of unconditional love.

That, in jurisdictions with abortion on demand, we should allow paper abortion.

Paper abortion is the ability of the biological father, before the birth of the child, to opt out of any rights, privileges, and responsibilities toward the child, including financial support.

Open QF

That the Baltic states (Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia) should train their civilian populations in armed insurgency.

That we support the mobilisation of Shia militia (eg. People’s mobilisation forces) in the battle against the Islamic State.

That a state pursuing policies with the effect of denying other states access to essential resources (food, water, etc.) that could not otherwise be obtained, should be legitimate grounds for military action.

Open SF

That we would deny land rights to, and if necessary, forcefully relocate indigenous communities whose culture and way of life are responsible for environmental degradation (eg. timber plundering, destruction of high conservation value areas, seal clubbing, etc.).

That Black Lives Matter should closely integrate the black church and elements of black liberation theology (the narrative that liberating the oppressed is the core of Christian doctrine) into its organisational structure and doctrines.

That Muslims should abandon the usage of the label ‘moderate Muslim’ in identifying themselves.

Open GF

That we support the creation of autonomously governed ocean-based communities (ie. seasteading).

That we should require businesses who profit from cultural traditions (ethnic restaurants/cultural tourism/yoga studios) to obtain a licence from minority community groups, based on conditions of their choosing.

That European States which remained neutral during World War II should pay compensation to States occupied by Nazi Germany.

Perth Australs 2016

R1

That where private prisons exist, they should be allowed to train/educate inmates in return for a percentage of that prisoner’s income that they earn after they leave prison.

That we should ban litigation funding.

That the state should fully compensate the victims of crimes committed by recidivist criminals.

R2

That we should allow people to sue media companies over harms that are created due to factual misinformation that they published.

That we should regret dating/hookup websites allowing their users filtering results on the basis of demographic characteristics (race, gender, age etc.).

That Facebook should proactively suppress extremist content.

R3

That we should reject the culture of fearing death.

That we would prefer a world with only one language.

That humans should attempt to suppress their sense of beauty.

R4

That public universities should not implement speech codes or codes of conduct that limit expression beyond the laws of that country.

That we should regret the increasing dominance of academic discourse in civil rights movements (e.g. gender studies to feminism and queer studies to that queer rights movement)

That universities and companies should only be allowed to recruit students and employees via a blind application process.

R5

That we should ban animal eugenics programmes (e.g.: selective breeding and pure breeding).

That we should cease all state initiated conservation projects.

That we should oppose giving human rights to individual animals who pass self-recognition tests unless the whole species are granted those rights.

R6

That citizenships should be placed on an international market for sale and purchase.

That the European Union should opt for less integration among its current member states

That refugees should be able to bypass standard refugee quotas and procedures if they have an individual citizen take responsibility for them.

R7

That we should legalize secondary strikes/solidarity action. (industrial action taken by a workforce in support of another, separate workforce)

That we should allow employees to give up workplace rights in exchange for higher wages.

That we would prefer a world where the norm is that people hold multiple part time jobs instead of the current norm of one full time job.

R8

That where the state has negotiated a sale of public land they must first offer indigenous groups the chance to purchase the land on the same terms.

That the state should exclusively focus on rectifying current inequalities to the exclusion of compensating for historical injustices.

That local communities should be able to cap the number of tourists that enter their region over a specific period of time.

ESL SF

That the narrative that charitable initiatives can be profitable (e.g. micro-financing, impact investment) has done more harm than good.

That charities should not accept donations made by public figures as part of a public apology (e.g. public figures who are criticised for being misogynists and then donate to domestic violence charities).

ESL GF

That we should oppose the Teach for All programme.

That as a middle class African-American parent, given the choice between an under-performing but predominantly African American school and a high performing but predominantly white school, we should choose to send our children to the predominantly African-American school.

That we should give control of education curriculum administration and policy (eg teacher pay and curricula) to teachers’ unions.

Open OF

That, where home schooling exists, we should ban religious individuals from homeschooling their children.

That we, as the Catholic Church, would abolish sainthoods and canonisation.

That individuals should always have the right to temporarily enter a state for the purposes of pilgrimage.

Open QF

That we regret the efforts of the United States to make housing more affordable.

That we, as China, should compensate venture capital/private equity firms for investment losses in China.

That the pro-Palestine movement should not liken Israel to apartheid.

Open SF

That we should abolish corporate/company tax.

That we should establish an international body responsible for taxing and redistributing income earned by multi-national corporations such as Facebook and Google.

That we should allow income splitting. (Income splitting allows a person to allocate part of their income to their partner for tax purposes. e.g. Kirkby earns $0, Nick earns $100,000. Each is taxed at $50,000 each. It is not taxing them at $100,000 as if they are one person.)

Open GF

That the modern breast feeding movement has done more harm than good.

That feminists should oppose drag culture.

That feminists should refrain from using the act of sex to further their personal or political goals.

SolBridge Australs 2015

R1

That we should prohibit police departments from having specialised public relations staff

That jurors should be allowed to directly cross examine witnesses

That we should remove statutes of limitation for all crimes

(Statues of limitation are laws that restrict prosecutors from prosecuting someone for a crime committed more than a specified number of years ago.)

R2

That those who live in states that suffer rampant corruption should evade tax

That we welcome China’s establishment of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank as an alternative to the International Monetary Fund

That we should allow citizens to donate to recognised charities of their own choosing instead of paying income tax

R3

That we should refrain from characterising villains of history as monsters

That curricula in post-colonial states should focus on locally-authored literature, to the absolute exclusion of ‘great work’ such as Shakespeare

That the media should have suppressed any reference to Dylan Roof’s mental illness, and instead focus exclusively on racism as an explanation for Charleston massacre.

R4

That we should make Boards of Trustees at colleges and universities personally liable for sexual crimes committed by their students against other students

That any potential romantic partners or professional sports players should deny them all physical and emotional contact until clubs and sports authorities agree to structural reforms to combat sexism

That we should permanently remove men who abuse their partners from secluded communities where domestic violence is entrenched.

R5

That Germany should prosecute United States government officials for torture in German courts, regardless of their participation in the trial

That member states of the International Criminal Court should be required to violate sovereignty to make arrests on behalf of the ICC

That we regret the Arabisation of Islam in South East Asia

R6

That as a progressive person, we regret the changes made to the Catholic Church and its direction ushered in by Pope Francis

That religious organisations should be exempt from employment discrimination law when hiring for ‘non-religious’ roles (e.g. secretaries, doctors, contractors)

That we regret the involvement of the church, its leaders and the language of religion (i.e. redemption, absolution) in truth and conciliation processes.

R7

Presuming it were possible, That we would opt for a digital existence over a physical one

Presuming feasibility, That we should allow individuals to selectively erase others’ memories of them

In a world where it exists, That love with artificial intelligence is as valid as love with a human

R8

That we regret Iraq’s policy of offering its citizens large sums of money to personally kill terrorist militants

That Western states should block ransom payments made by families for the release of ISIS captives

In the face of an overwhelming failure of conventional responses by nation-states, That churches should encourage and materially support able members of their congregation to go and fight against ISIS

EFL SF

That governments who fail to disaster-proof should be held liable for the deaths of their citizens in the event of a natural disaster

That Greece should sell sovereign control over portions of its territory to private companies in order to finance its debt repayment

That we celebrate the proliferation of regionally specific human rights instruments such as the Arab Charter on Human Rights, despite deviations from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights

EFL GF

That companies should be compelled to finance their female employees to freeze their eggs and subsequently undergo in vitro fertilisation (IVF)

Where conflicts have disproportionately harmed women, That post-conflict states should exclusively appoint women to positions of leadership in the military

That we should prosecute fathers who choose to walk out on their children for criminal negligence, irrespective of whether they pay child support

ESL GF

That journalists and media organisations who cover conflicts should be required to render reasonable assistance to the victims, even where it directly jeopardises their coverage

That living people owe a moral obligation to preserve an equivalent to present standard of living for future generations

That we should demonise neutral states that refrain from taking action in conflicts with a definitely identifiable oppressor

Open OF

That criminal justice policy should be outsourced to technocrats in place of elected representatives

That political parties should be compelled to retain membership racially proportional to the population

That within progressive social justice movements, allies from majorities ought to remain silent

Open QF

That states should not enter into international agreements that contain investor-state dispute settlement provisions

That we should require companies that develop innovations disrupting established industries to pay compensation to the labour forces they make redundant

That we should privatise the ocean

Open SF

That faced with a choice between purchasing desirable but non-essential products (e.g. Starbucks) over spending on alleviating suffering (e.g. donating to charity), that we ought to always do the latter

That we should not prosecute those who, for reasons of mercy, kill family members who are physically or mentally incapable of consenting to death

That the government should pre-emptively and aggressively intervene in individuals’ lives based on data-driven predictions in areas such as health, education and crime

Open GF

That African Americans should embrace claims made by white individuals, such as Rachel Dolezal, to identify as part of their community

That we regret the commercialisation of Pride

That we cannot achieve social justice

Otago Australs 2014

R1

That vegetarians and vegans have a moral obligation to aggressively lobby their friends and community to not consume animal products

That the West should not import food from nations with chronic food shortages

That we should ban all advertising and education which implies that addictive or dangerous substances cannot be enjoyable

R2

That major transactions of professional sporting clubs should be subject to a vote of paid club members

That there should be character tests for owning or participating in professional sporting teams

That we should eject sporting teams from international competitions if their fans are found to have committed racist/sexist/queerphobic etc acts during matches

R3

That we regret the depiction of protagonists in children’s books and media as aesthetically superior

That children should learn history as a unifying national story rather than a criticism of past generations

That we should promote the notion that the decision to have a child is a selfish one

R4

That developed nations should pay developing nations to not extract their fossil fuel resources (coal, gas, oil)

That governments should not preserve habitats purely for cultural or aesthetic reasons

That rather than protecting endangered species the animal rights movement should prioritise maximising the total welfare of the animal population

R5

That corporations should be allowed to vote

That we support an aggressively redistributive global income tax

That, once sufficient welfare services have been provided to every citizen, the state should not care about relative inequality

R6

That couples should be able to enter relationship contracts which make any future infidelity a state-enforced crime

That we should support online vigilantes to act against perpetrators of crime and police departments/prosecutors who fail to effectively prosecute them

That we should grant overweight people the same protections from discrimination and hate speech as other vulnerable groups

R7

That we should abolish NATO

That Modi’s victory over the Congress Party should be celebrated

That ransoms should not be paid to Boko Haram

R8

That the feminist movement should exclude activists who argue that transwomen are not women

That full equality between the sexes requires the complete abolition of femininity and masculinity

That, as an attractive educated woman, we would choose to marry for money rather than pursue a career

ESL SF

That indigenous communities who have historically lived in the Amazon should not be punished for acts of vigilantism against poaches and illegal loggers

That historically oppressed indigenous minorities should embrace and promote inaccurate but positive myths or beliefs about their culture

That indigenous citizens should be paid a salary for life as a form of reparations

ESL GF

That we should ban volunteer tourism

That First Ladies/Gentlemen should not publically advocate for policies or political positions during their partner’s term in office

That we regret the American withdrawal from Iraq

Open OF

That the state should vet all advertisements intended for public spaces to ensure they do not perpetuate racist or sexist stereotypes

That progressive public forums should actively recruit controversial, socially regressive speakers in order to spark public outrage and discussion

That adoption organisations which preference, or facilitate biological parents’ preferences for, placing children in heterosexual homes should be closed

Open QF

That the West should force the immediate resignation of Nouri al-Maliki

That reconciliation between Hamas and Fatah is bad for Palestine

That, in spite of the opposition of the Burmese Government, the international community should set up a safehaven for the Rohingyas in Burma

Open SF

That the rise of the Tea Party Movement is good for liberal citizens of the United States of America

That we regret that Barack Obama has not made his racial background a significant issue during his Presidency

That it would be better for the United States of America if the Southern states were to secede

Open GF

That Western Liberal Democratic States should take an ongoing public stance against religion

That assuming a medicinal method of becoming heterosexual was developed, it should be banned

In a post-genocide society, the state should aggressively pursue housing policies which promote racial integration

UT MARA Australs 2013

R1: Education

That universities should not have patents.

That we would abolish tenure for university professors.

That states that don’t provide free tertiary education should subsidize career paths for students that is useful for the state.

R2: Sport

That the English Premier League should significantly limit the number of foreign players per team .

That professional sporting clubs should only b owned by the local authority of the area they represent.

That we should ban players’ unions in major sporting leagues

R3: Crime

We should require criminal judges to be employed in a prison for 6 months prior to appointment to the bench.

That illegally gathered evidence and information should be admissible in criminal trials

That individuals who commit minor crimes should be allowed 2 convert their sentences into corporal punishment

R4: Media

That we should require all free-to-air TV stations to have and adequately fund 60min of ad-free news in prime time.

That journalists should be required to lodge their sources with a press council for verification.

That CEOs of major news companies should be democratically elected in open public elections.

R5: Economics

That countries should not seek to regulate digital currencies like the Bitcoin

R6: Social Politics

That we should make legislative deliberations & decisions on retirement age and superannuation private, anonymous, confidential and by the secret ballot.

That we should support granting private administrative control of cities on the basis of charters

That gay rights group should disavow the “Gay is the New Black” campaign.

R7

That the US should pay Chinese activists to combat the efforts of China’s ’50 Cent Party’

That Detroit should sell the Detroit Institute of Art’s 1 billion USD collection to service it’s debts

That Obama should grant Edward Snowden amnesty from all charges

R8

TWS refuse classification to films and TV shows that fail the Bechdel Test.

TWS pay parental leave as equal and non-transferable portions of leave for each parent

That progressive women’s groups should refrain from attacking female politicians regardless of their policies

Adj Test

That individuals should be allowed to sell their right to sue to one/more 3rd parties.

ESL QF: politics

That minimum standards of living should be legally enforceable in developing countries

That political parties should abolish their military wings

That we should select only women as diplomats to countries with poor rights standards for women

ESL SF

That China should establish military bases overseas.

That Palestinians should not accept citizenship from Arab Nations.

That we should require UN approval for the giving of military aid or selling of (words missing).

ESL GF

That the media should not have broadcast the footage of British soldier, Lee Rigby, being murdered in London.

Open Pre-OF: Social Policy

That the infacticide of newborns should not be punished beyond the penalty for unlawful late-term abortion.

That it was wrong for parents to accept confidential settlements from the Catholic Church on behlaf of their children for abuse committed by clergymen.

That Islamic states should set the curriculum of madrassas.

Open OF: Environment

That we should abolish Green Belt regulations. (Green Belt regulations prevent urban development beyond a certain geographic boundary.)

That we should rewrite animal welfare standards to be uniform for each species of animal, regardless the animal’s use/context.

That Obama should use the Environmental Protection Agency and other executive powers to aggressively combat climate change

Open QF: The Middle East

TWS support aggressive Palestinian protests, like property destruction, in illegal Israeli settlements

That the Muslim Brotherhood should cooperate with Adly admin and accept Cabinet positions for ending protests against the interim gov

That we regret the rise of the nation state in the Arab World

Open SF: Law

That we should abolish the criminal law, expand tort law and provide extra funding for the litigants

That the standard or ‘responsibleness’ in criminal cases should never be influenced by prejudicial assumptions, even if held by the average person in that society.

That the tax offices should be allowed to retrospectively declare acts of aggressive accounting, which expliot tax loopholes, illegal.

GF

That women should be criminally liable for harm to foetuses in utero as a result of their lifestyle choices

Wellington Australs 2012

R1: Sport

TWS ban eating contests.

That sporting leagues should never suspend players for off field behaviour.

That developing nations should not host international sporting events.

R2: Sin

That the government should not receive any revenue from gambling beyond standard taxation.

TWS require individuals to disclose that they carry STIs even if protection is used.

That individuals should be required to pass drug tests in order to receive welfare benefits.

R3: Ethics

TWS grant higher-level primates more rights than other animals.

That doctors should be required to perform medical procedures even when it conflicts with their beliefs.

That employers should be allowed to discriminate on lifestyle factors (such as smoking and obesity) when hiring.

R4: Growing Threats

That NATO should invite former Eastern Bloc states to be members.

That the UN should establish a standing military force.

That the US should impose retaliatory tariffs on China for currency manipulation.

R5: Food

That the state should provide incentives for individuals to grow their own produce and buy locally.

TWS adopt a vegetarian diet.

TWS celebrate the growth of the fat pride movement.

R6: Politics

That developing nations should prohibit families of current or former politicians from running for office.

TWS make voting mandatory.

TWS ban all political campaign contributions.

R7: Economics

TWS introduce a tax on financial transations.

That EU should create a common fiscal authority.

That governments should not fund reconstruction in areas that are prone to natural disasters.

R8: Law

TWS force victims of domestic violence to testify in court.

TWS criminalise prostitution.

OF

TWS repeal the individual mandate for healthcare in the

TWS set term limits for US Supreme Court justices.

That the US should declare an amnesty for all illegal immigrants.

QF

That the death of print media is bad for journalism

That law enforcement should turn a blind eye to drug use and sale in designated areas.

That families whose children perform well in school should receive bonus welfare payments

ESL SF

That media outlets should be allowed to report on the details of suicides.

That the media should not report on the private lives of politicians.

That there should be a minimum Body Mass Index (BMI) for women on television

SF

That we should have a one state solution for Israel and Palestine

That the West should suppress pro-democracy movements which are against the West’s strategic interests

That we should only grant amnesty to dictators at the conclusion of conflicts

GF

That we should introduce good samaritan laws

That we should introduce a system of school vouchers

That the state should stop subsidising monogamous relationships.

Korea Australs 2011

R1: Sport

That sporting teams should not tour nations whose players have been found guilty of match fixing

That sporting bodies should allow the use of al performance enhancing drugs

That we should restrict access to international competitions for nations who abuse their athletes

R2: Development

That a fixed proportion of development aid should be allocated to microcredit schemes

That developing nations should embrace medical tourism

That the World Bank and IMP chairs should be selected on a rotational regional basis

R3: Government

That military officers should be allowed to criticize the governments

That we should abolish parliamentary privilege as a defense to defamation

That the public should directly elect US Supreme Court Justices

R4: International relations

That we should not sell uranium to India

That Mexico should cease the war on drugs

That South Korea should return to the Sunshine Policy

R5: Economics

That Greece should return to the Drachma

That we should prohibit price gouging after natural disasters

That we should recognize the necessity of sweatshops

R6: Crime and punishment

That the state should not fund medical care for those injured as a result of committing crimes

That employers should not have access to job applicants’ criminal records

That juries should return not guilty verdicts if they believe laws are unjust

R7: Aboreligion

That we should grant automatic asylum to women living in states which practice Shariah law.

That the state should refuse to tolerate sexist indigenous cultural practices

That it is legitimate to oppose religion by seeking out and exposing private immoral behavior of religious leaders

R8: Illicit markets

That we should allow the trade of endangered animals

That states should forbid non-citizens from working in the sex industry in order to prevent human trafficking

That we should be allowed to buy and sell children

Double OF: Politics

That politicians should be able to nominate certain campaign promises as legally binding on them upon assuming power

That we should remove tax exempt status from any organization that funds or engages in political activity.

That individuals should be able to direct portion of state funding for medical care to alternative medicines

Open OF: International relations 2

That we should recognize the independence of Somaliland

That China should remove all restrictions on internal migration

That colonial states have a duty to intervene in failed postcolonial states.

QF: Environment

That we should create a system of tradeable fishing quotas

That we should allow indigenous groups to manage their own environmental resources as they see fit.

That we should prohibit corporations from sponsoring academic research

SF: Property

That developing nations should sell sovereignty over autonomous zones to entrepreneurs

That all artists should receive a percentage of the resale value of their work

That developing nations should retaliate against developed-world protectionism by refusing to respect intellectual property laws

GF: War

That the US should close down all of its military basis in Asia

That Israel should publicly admit possession of nuclear weapons

That nations should use bounty hunters to capture or kill enemies

ESL QF: Families

That the receipt of family benefits should be conditional on the implantation of long-term contraceptives

That welfare-dependent students who perform well academically should receive bonus payments

That parents should receive extra vote per child in elections

ESL SF: Media

That there should be a minimum quota for domestically created content in media

That media organizations should be required to provide equal airtime to all political parties

That the government should not regulate or rate media content

ESL GF: Institutions

That the WTO should allow nations to place tariffs on imports that damage the environment

That ASEAN should allow the free movement of labor

That the ICC should only indict leaders at the conclusion of conflicts

Auckland Australs 2010

R1: Religion

That we should prevent parents from raising their children in a particular religious faith

That governments should refuse to recognise Scientology as a religion

That it should be a crime to insult religions

R2: Sport

That we should ban the international trade in sportspeople under the age of 18

That we should ban the private ownership of professional sporting clubs

That all countries competing in the Olympics should have to include male and female athletes

R3: Australia (and New Zealand)

That New Zealand and Australia should remove the Fiji Government by force

That New Zealand and Australia should place no restrictions migrants from Pacific countries, other than those relating to health and security

That we support granting land rights to indigenous peoples as a means of redressing historical injustice

R4: Families

That infidelity should be a factor in the financial resolution of divorce

That senior citizens should be financially supported (when required) by their adult children

That courts should refuse to recognise pre-nuptial agreements

R5: Asia

That the US should not sell arms to Taiwan

That China should abolish the ‘one child’ policy

That the Philippines should have a Truth and Reconciliation Commission into the crimes of the Arroyo administration instead of criminal trials

R6: Liberty, Freedom and Choice

That we should prohibit the labelling of products as ‘fair trade’

That we should prohibit discrimination in the labour market on the basis of physical attractiveness

That we should end all government funding for health, education, and police measures that aim to prevent suicide

R7: La Vieille Europe

That the US should withdraw its military bases from Europe

That we should say, au revoir, tot ziens, and, finally, partition Belgium

That Turkish admission to the EU should be contingent upon a full recognition of the Armenian genocide

R8: The Law

That all defendants and victims in sexual assault trials should have their identity protected until a verdict is reached

That socially progressive movements should use the courts to advance social change

That we should prohibit private prisons

OF: Learning

That we should ban homeschooling

That we support the use of school vouchers

QF: Democracy

That we should ban professional political lobbyists

That the leaders of parliamentary parties should be chosen by party members rather than their parliamentary colleagues

That individuals should be able to sell their vote

ESL SF: Health

That we should stop the search for the ‘gay gene’

That we should abolish private health insurance

That we should ban non-essential cosmetic surgery

SF: Tax and Equality

That there should be a constitutional limit on the regressiveness of the tax system

That income tax levels should be determined by the relative privilege of an individual’s upbringing

That we should use the tax system to subsidise the ownership of major businesses by members of disadvantaged social minorities

ESL GF: Immigration

That we should auction the right to immigrate

That emigrants should pay an ‘exit tax’ when they change their citizenship

That ASEAN should allow free and open movement of labour within its borders

GF

That the West should immediately withdraw from Afghanistan

That the right to a minimum standard of living should be legally enforceable in developed countries

That the International Criminal Court should allow for the prosecution of ‘crimes against the earth’

Monash Australs 2009

R1: Education

That extra fees or donations above the actual cost of education should not be used to gain admission into university.

That talented students should be taught separately from their peers.

That indigenous people should have free and unqualified access to university.

R2: Global Financial Crisis

That Governments should bail out homeowners directly.

That trade unions should have their power restricted during times of economic crisis.

That Governments should obtain a majority stake in companies that they bail out.

R3: Sexuality

That the gay rights movement should not support the institution of marriage.

That we should recognise the right of religious groups to discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation.

That sexual education classes at school should include, but not be limited to: sexual orientation, anal sex, mutual gratification and masturbation.

R4: The Environment

That population control should be part of any global approach to tackle climate change.

That protection of the environment should be considered a mitigating factor when sentencing eco-terrorists.

That the developed world should not sell contaminated material to the developing world for processing.

R5: Borders

That soldiers who have fought for foreign countries should be granted citizenship within the country that they fought for.

That this house would open all borders.

That the US should grant citizenship to all Guantanamo detainees regardless of guilt.

R6: Latin America

That the United States should stop funding the Columbian Government.

That Latin American countries should take action against countries whose leaders took power through military coups.

That the United States should stop buying Hugo Chavez’s oil.

R7: Law

That single parents in prison should be provided special treatment to allow them to raise their young children from behind bars.

That parliamentarians should receive no compensation beyond their base salary.

That employees of the United States Government who authorised or carried out “enhanced interrogation techniques” during the Bush administration should be prosecuted.

R8: The “STOP” Round

That we should ban celebrities from participating in political campaigns.

That we should ban mail-order brides.

That we should ban the use and development of all unmanned offensive military weaponry.

OF

That the international community should provide material support to the Iranian opposition

That we should detain and search North Korean vessels suspected of carrying nuclear weapons technology.

That aid to Pakistan should be conditional on allowing international forces to secure and monitor their nuclear weapons installations.

QF

That businesses should refuse to comply with China’s internet restrictions.

That the hiring and firing by employers should not be influenced by information found on social networking sites.

That the Government should subsidise print journalism.

ESL SF

That Western countries should ban the wearing of the burkha in public spaces.

That Governments should not provide religious services to its military personnel.

That aid agencies should not be allowed to undertake missionary activites.

SF

That water should not be privatised.

That we should create an international market for the sale of babies.

That we should create a global free market for the sale of all drugs.

ESL GF

That ASEAN should establish a Human Rights Court.

That the European Parliament should be abolished.

GF

That Palestine should accept demilitarisation in return for a guaranteed sovereign state.

That we should grant the Roma Gypsies a sovereign state.

That we should divide Sudan.

Ateneo Australs 2008

R1: Conflict Zones

That the UN should hire mercenaries for military operations.

That African states should recognize Tsvangirai as the rightful leader of Zimbabwe.

That we would respect China’s right to prosecute foreign athletes who protest at the Beijing Olympics.

R2: Sin

That we would ban groups that glorify obesity.

That governments should not take any action to discourage individuals from smoking.

That problem gamblers should have their welfare payments suspended.

R3: Philippines

That we should end US involvement in fighting terrorism in Southern Mindanao.

That we have had enough People Power revolutions.

That the Philippines should adopt Chavez-style land reforms.

R4: Business and Trade

That corporate regulators should have veto power over executive bonuses.

That we would protect nationally important companies from ownership by foreign government entities.

That the WTO should abandon consensus voting as the basis for decision-making.

R5: Sustainable Development

That areas of high ecological value should be returned to indigenous peoples for management.

That arable lands should not be used for growing crops for bio-fuels.

That individuals should be given carbon quotas.

R6: Bois and Grrrls

That we would create separate units for gays in the military.

That governments should ban groups that seek to ‘straighten out’ gay men and women.

That we would allow minors to have sex change operations.

R7: Science and Tech

That all state-funded projects should be open source.

That genetic research that attributes negative traits to particular races should not be published.

That nations should be able to charge licensing fees for the use of genetic information from their native plants and animals.

R8: Democracy

That candidates should be disallowed from using their own money to finance their campaigns.

That the West should cease pressuring transitioning democracies to hold elections.

That we would abolish political parties.

Women’s debate

That pre and post op transsexuals should be allowed into women-only organizations.

ESL SF: Immigration

That industrialized nations should be forced to accept climate change refugees.

That states should remove all restrictions against the immigration of HIV-infected people.

That medical workers from developing countries should not be allowed to migrate to the developed world.

ESL GF: Energy

That the price of petrol should be determined entirely by the market.

That we would drill for oil in the arctic circle.

That the production of non-hybrid cars should be stopped.

OF: Health

That hymen reconstruction surgeries should be banned.

That IVF clinics should be stopped from implanting embryos known to have disabilities.

That all restrictions on the advertising of prescription drugs should be removed.

QF: US Racial Politics

That we should vote for Barack Obama on the basis of his race.

That low-income ethnic neighborhoods should be protected from gentrification.

That Latinos should have the right to be taught in Spanish.

SF: Pedophilia

That we would abolish the crime of statutory rape.

That police officers should be banned from posing as children on the internet to catch pedophiles.

That capital punishment should be allowed in cases of child rape.

GF: Weapons

That international institutions should use force to restrict the sale of small arms to African nations.

That gun ownership should be restricted to law enforcement agencies.

That we should rely on mutual assured destruction rather than on nuclear non-proliferation.

UT Mara Australs 2007

R1: DEMOCRACY

That presidential democracies should change to parliamentary democracies.

That the media should be required to cap political advertising by candidates and parties during elections.

That Tonga should abandon its absolute monarchy.

R2: BIOETHICS

That the West should not recognize clinical trials conducted in the Third World.

That governments should abolish patent protection and instead establish a fund that guarantees payments for the development of new medicines for Third World diseases.

That we should have a moratorium on genetically modified foods until they are proven to be safe.

R3: MALAYSIA … TRULY ASIA

That segregating universities on the basis of ethnicity should be abolished.

That all Malaysians should come under the same civil code.

That Malaysia should abolish compulsory national service.

R4: The Dismal Science

That governments in the Third World should reclaim ownership of basic services.

That the WTO should enforce fair trade instead of free trade.

That growth in happiness, not growth in GDP, should be the measure of success in developed countries.

R5: LANGUAGE AND CULTURE

That new citizens should be required to pass a language and values test.

That we should strive to prevent endangered languages from becoming extinct.

That the membership of the United Nations Security Council should represent the world’s major ‘civilizations’.

R6: SECURITY IN ASIA PACIFIC

That we should lift trade sanctions on North Korea as soon as it shuts and seals its nuclear facilities.

That Sri Lanka should grant the Tamils statehood.

That Australia should recruit soldiers from Pacific Island States.

R7: THE NANNY STATE

That democratic states should adopt Singapore’s law regarding oral sex.

That the state should compel the parents of obese children to sponsor a child in the Third World.

That ‘emo’ youths should be placed in state care.

R7: THE GREATEST MARKET FAILURE IN HISTORY

That we should use biofuels as the solution to ‘peak oil’.

That the developed world should institute a policy of zero population growth.

That we should abandon the Kyoto Protocol in favour of the Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate (AP6).

R8: MIDDLE EAST

The West Bank should become a part of Jordan.

That the West should overtly support pro-democracy movements in Middle Eastern states.

That only ‘soft power’ can achieve America’s goal of democratisation in the Middle East.

OF: LABOUR

That host countries of guest workers should pay a tax to the country of origin.

That the Members-States should grant free movement of labour in EU.

That South America should cease coca eradication programs.

ESL SF: HEALTH AND EDUCATION

That the United States should establish a system of universal health care.

That religious schools should be forced to teach comprehensive sex education.

That Southeast Asian Governments should provide condoms in prisons.

WOMEN’S DEBATE

That the election of Hillary Clinton would be good for women.

QF: WHATS COLD IS HOT AGAIN

That we should suspend Russia’s G8 membership pending democratic reforms.

That NATO should support the unilateral declaration of Kosovo’s independence.

That the US should accept Putin’s request to modify its plans for missile defense.

SF: SIZE DOES MATTER

That male circumcision should be banned.

That we should decriminalize prostitution in Southeast Asia.

That cock fighting should be banned.

ESL GF: GENDER

That we should legalise abortion in Southeast Asia.

That there should be gender quotas for Executive positions in Fortune 500 companies.

That doctors should be required to report suspected cases of domestic violence.

GF: Mental Health

That governments should pay for treatments that seek to ‘normalise’ autism.

Buddle Findlay Vic Australs 2006

Adjudication test

That we should uphold the right of Iran to develop nuclear weapons.

Women’s debate

That we should have quotas for the number of women in national parliaments.

R1

That media should be able to freely report suicides.

That we should ban all advertising during children’s television programming.

That we should ban the publication of political party support polls.

R2

That ASEAN should sign a free trade agreement now.

That we should disband the WTO.

That China should move to float its currency.

R3

That we should boycott developing countries that nationalize their oil companies.

That we should support net oil-importing developing nations in building nuclear power plants.

That governments should issue tradable quotas for air travel.

R4

That the micro-states of the Pacific should federate.

That Australia and New Zealand should actively uphold the result of the democratic process in Fiji.

That New Zealand should become a state of Australia.

R5

That all schools should have comprehensive sex education classes.

That we should require large companies in AustralAsia to provide comprehensive healthcare for employees.

That Catholic medical providers should be forced to provide preventative and emergency contraception.

R6

That Pakistan should close its Madrassas.

That Jerusalem should become a UN protectorate.

That we should transfer military resources from Iraq to Afghanistan.

R7

That we should abolish detention without trial for suspected terrorists.

That we should abolish the imposition of custodial sentences on young offenders.

That civilian victims of the war on terror should be compensated.

OF

That players and fans should be able to participate in ambush marketing activities.

That iTunes music should be downloadable to any device.

That we should force pornography websites to move to a .xxx internet domain.

ESL SF

That we should publish cartoons of religious figures.

That sporting boycotts are a legitimate tool of foreign policy.

That convicted criminals should be banned from running for public office in Asia.

QF

That corporations should be held responsible for abuses committed by their contracted service providers.

That the compensation of all executives should be pegged to the average wage of that company’s workers.

That we should require companies to donate 5% of their annual revenue to charitable causes to be eligible for government contracts.

SF

That East Asia should adopt a common history textbook.

That politicians must relinquish all control over family-owned assets to global investment banks.

ESL GF

That we should end affirmative action in Malaysia.

That governments should fund development aid and not disaster relief.

That we would introduce hard labour for criminals in the developed world.

GF

That we should criminalise the payment of dowry.

That it should be legitimate to use aid to buy votes in international organisations.

That China should allow the internal free movement of labour.

UQ(University of Queensland) Australs 2005

R1: Justice

That the Indonesian President should pardon Scapelle Corby.

That individuals found guilty of crimes overseas should serve their sentences in their country of origin.

That trial by jury sould be abolished.

R2: Gay Rights

That this house would legislate to prevent gays becoming parent.

That we should swash the myth of the ‘lipstick lesbian’.

That the gay rights movement should mourn the emergence of ‘gay-bourhoods’.

R3: Environment

That the poverty of people should be a secondary concern to the demise of the environment.

That the decision to uphold the ban on whaling is an act of Western Imperialism.

That this house would charge the CEO of corporations for crimes committed against the environment in the Third World.

R5: Asia

That the ASEAN should take an interventionist stance in separatist conflicts in member states.

That Japan should have a permanent seat on the UN Security Council.

That this house supports the call for Gloria’s　resignation.

R6: The Media

That cheque-book journalism should be banned.

That Microsoft should not help China censor the Internet.

That Holocaust denial should be a crime.

R7: Terrorism

That this house would pay for the return of hostages.

That the US should prevent its residents from accessing the Al Jazeera Network.

That this house would establish a permanent international tribunal for trying terrorists.

UTS(University of Technology, Sydney) Australs 2004

R1: Education

TH supports fees for degrees.

Indigenous people should be given preferential access to education.

Private schooling is a public benefit.

R2: International Relation

TH should levy sanctions on Myanmar.

Taiwan should declare independence.

THW cage the Tamil Tigers.

R3: Risky Business

A company’s only responsibility is to its shareholders.

White collar criminals should be gaoled.

TH supports off-shore outsourcing.

R4: Discrimination

Lesbian women should have access to medically assisted donor insemination.

TH supports gay marriage.

TH should tax fat.

R5: Security

Private mercenaries have a role in State conflicts.

Military courts are a necessity.

Torture is a legitimate method of intelligence gathering.

R6: Out Spoken People

Michael Moore does his cause more harm than good.

Religious leaders should refrain from making political statements.

Political wings of terrorist organizations should be banned from Parliament.

R7: Iraq

Countries which opposed the war in Iraq have no responsibility to aid its reconstruction.

TH would execute Saddam.

The US suffers from “premature evacuation”.

OF: Health

Severely disabled people should be sterilized.

Parents have a right to access the medical records of their children.

Insurance companies have a right to access the results of genetic testing.

ESL SF

Islam needs a Pope.

Companies should be banned from making donations to political parties.

Essential service providers have right to strike.

QF: Sovereignty

Secession is a democratic right.

US military bases should be pulled out of Asia.

TH supports the targeted assassination of terrorist leaders.

SF

The private life of politicians are public property.

Under age hackers should face the full force of the law.

Israel should cease construction of its security fense.

GF: Women

TH should pay women to have babies.

Victims of sex trafficking should be given automatic residency.

Equal opportunity legislation should apply to religious institutions.