Glass invited all Guild election candidates to submit a statement explaining why they are running and why they deserve your vote. This is your chance to hear directly from those who want to represent you—so take a moment to get to know their priorities and visions for the future.
Voting opens on Monday, 21st October 2024. You can check out the rest of the candidate statements here.
My name is Georgie Dobbs and I’m running as a candidate for Environment Officer and NUS Delegate as a part of Left Action Free Palestine. We are an activist ticket made up of members of Students for Palestine, Socialist Alternative, and other left-wing students. Left Action believes in an alternative view of student unionism that organises students to fight for their rights.
The cost-of-living crisis has meant students now have to skip meals. Increases in HECS mean students now owe thousands more in debt. Additionally, 12 months of Israeli state violence has killed over 40,000 Palestinians, and our university’s ties to weapons companies have meant our university is turning a profit! This is why we need an activist approach.
I saw first the power of students at the QUT special general meeting for Palestine earlier this semester. Over 600 students turned out to vote against QUT’s disgusting ties to the weapons industry and stand in solidarity with Gaza. Left Action believes that unions should take stances on all sorts of political and social issues such as racism, sexism, homophobia, and the environment. This involves standing against our own Australian Government and university administrations when they defend the interests of the rich. This year, Left Action has been involved in pro-Palestine rallies both on and off the campus, fighting against war and militarism, and organising protests indigenous and refugee racism.
Student unions aren’t about sitting behind a desk or shaking hands behind closed doors- they are about organising students to fight for their rights. The QUT administration wants to continue profiteering of the war in Palestine and exploit their students. It’s high time we saw a change in that. For an activist union, vote 1 Left Action Free Palestine for Environment Officer, Education Officer, NUS and SRC.
