Democracy campaign overturns young Liberals’ rigged student election

Students at the Queensland University of Technology have overturned a rigged election at the campus.

The young Liberals, who have controlled the guild for six years, were returned to office in the student guild unopposed last month after nominations were opened and closed secretly.

Young Liberals in Queensland have form. In 2012, Liberal students at the University of Queensland changed election regulations, banned the opposition and went to the polls unopposed. This sparked a “Democracy4UQ” campaign, on which students at QUT six years later have modelled our fightback.

Displaying the same contempt for students as the young Liberals at UQ, the incumbents at QUT announced the election on a single notice in the basement of the student union building. This prevented multiple opposition groups from lodging their nominations.

Outrage at the sham process led to the establishment of the “Democracy4QUT” campaign by the opposition groups. The campaign collected more than 1,000 signatures to have the results overturned. Yet the returning officer rejected the petition.

An appeal was then submitted to the electoral tribunal. On 21 September, the tribunal found that the elections were not held on fair or democratic grounds. Fresh elections were called.

An alliance of progressive students, including Socialist Alternative members, is running against the Liberals’ ticket (named “EPIC”) on a ticket named “Reach”.

The control of our student unions by Liberals is a threat to student rights. Liberals have used their position in the guild to campaign for the abolition of the Student Services and Amenities Fee, which is the basis of student union funding. Liberal students in the guild have put out press releases supporting university fee deregulation.

Kicking out the Liberals would create a space to reinvigorate left wing politics on campus and create a more democratic guild.