Back when I was at University of Queensland I used to have some fairly strong views on Voluntary Student Unionism (VSU). It looks like Kieran has an opinion as well.
At the time I was anti-VSU. From time to time I marched in a number of protests on campus and through Brisbane itself and also “occupied” the UQ student union building in protest of the stance the elected student representatives were taking on the issue (they were pro-VSU).
Like all good left wing students I grew up into great capitalist (although I wouldn’t say I am right wing, more the disgruntled center 
). These days I feel like any process that takes money from you where you can’t decide where its invested to help you is a bit cheeky.
Can’t say I ever really missed the union fees, but if I didn’t have to pay them I probably wouldn’t have.