University of Canberra left polls well

Issue 

University of Canberra left polls well

By Nick Middleton

CANBERRA — Students at the University of Canberra went to the polls on October 21-23 to elect next year's Students Association. They gave a good vote to left and progressive candidates, including members of the broad left ACTION ticket.

The "Straight Left" ticket (right-wing Labor students) won only one of the four executive positions contested, and six out of 14 general committee positions. The remaining three executive positions were won by progressive candidates supported by ACTION.

Next year's Students Association will include four ACTION general committee members, two United Independent Students, and two other individual candidates, one of whom is an activist from the environment collective.

Darren Perry, ACTION presidential candidate and vice president of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Students' Association, lost the position to Daniel Stoll from "Straight Left" by only 40 votes out of 500.

Resistance member and ACTION candidate Nick Soudakoff won one of four National Union of Students delegate positions.

On the last day of polling, a number of candidates from "Straight Left" and United Independent Students attempted to have ACTION disqualified.

They claimed that the use of chalk-ups on the ground was "potentially dangerous" to students, and that non-UC students were canvassing too close to the polling booth (i.e. they were 42 metres away rather than 50). The returning officer dismissed the complaint.

Soudakoff said, "We ran a strong campaign. We had activists from UC and ANU supporting a left activist alternative to the current Labor Right bureaucrats. We got an amazing response. That's why the complaint was lodged."

If you like our work, become a supporter

Green Left is a vital social-change project and aims to make all content available online, without paywalls. With no corporate sponsors or advertising, we rely on support and donations from readers like you.

For just $5 per month get the Green Left digital edition in your inbox each week. For $10 per month get the above and the print edition delivered to your door. You can also add a donation to your support by choosing the solidarity option of $20 per month.

Freecall now on 1800 634 206 or follow the support link below to make a secure supporter payment or donation online.