Controversy for UQ Union Elections
I'm looking into the action currently sweeping through the University of Queensland for my own understanding of the issue and to shed some light on the situation for fellow students. Although this has been a very public debate I, being a relatively new student, am not entirely familiar with the setup of our union or the various parties running and their associations. Although this may not be something that grasps the attention of students from a political standpoint, it is immensely important to understand exactly what is happening with our student union, the power it holds and the repercussions of the suggested 'dirty tactics' at play.
The focus of what has received media coverage across Brisbane and now nationally, is the accusation that the student union FRESH have deliberately blocked other candidates from running in this year’s election. FRESH supposedly changed the rules under which candidates can nominate their electoral ticket just 48 hours before the nominations were due; according to competing party PULSE. There have been noted rule changes in the last year, which FRESH are adamant the other runners were aware of and that they have had a year to accommodate the changes.
The downright 'dirty tricks' swamping this election is the use of PULSE's name under another party not associated with the official group, but supposedly associated with FRESH president Colin Finke. Finke claims to have no association with the fake PULSE ticket. This is surprising considering his brother is on the ticket in a prominent role.
I have been paying close attention to the interactions of the FRESH group and other students on campus, and my general impression is that they are trying their upmost to detach themselves from the controversy. However, what’s more concerning is that they seem to be 'buying' the vote of students with vouchers and T-shirts and leaving them unawares as to what is really going on behind this election.
As a student who intends to be fully aware where her vote goes this year and in consequent years, I am keeping up with the coverage and tyring to follow both sides of the story. Two pieces of journalism that I believe show the 'ins and outs' of the unfolding story are linked below.
The Herald Sun reports the information based around the fact that FRESH claims to have informed the other candidates adequately and that they had plenty of time to comply with the new rules. The second is a very interesting interview from non-other than Steve Austin (our guest 'Sound' lecturer in JOUR111, week 4) who interviewed Lorelai Links from Democracy 4 UQ U (D4UQU). Steve sites that, although many attempts were made, Colin Finke and any member from FRESH remained unavailable for the interview.
Herald Sun: "University of Queensland to hold hearing over union Fresh's 'dirty tactics'"
612 ABC Brisbane: UQ Campus Politics, interview with Steve Austin and Lorelai Links
A hearing was held between FRESH and D4UQU on Thursday the 23rd of August but the case has been dismissed. D4UQU continues to voice its outrage around the election and FRESH and having withdrawn their candidacy will publicly protest and 'shame' FRESH until our student body is aware of what exactly is going on behind our union doors.
For more information visit the Democracy 4 UQ U Facebook page for updates and information on how to vote, rally, and stay informed!
D4UQU Facebook page
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