Left Action, otherwise known as Socialist Alternative or SAlt, has recently been plagued with multiple allegations of abusive behaviour from a range of sources.
Most notably, a petition has been set up on change.org, calling for the QUT Guild and UQ Union to “immediately put a stop to SAlt’s operations upon our campuses”, by urging them to “deregister the ‘Socialist Alternative QUT’ and ‘Socialist Alternative UQ’ clubs (until further notice) and launch immediate investigations into SAlt’s activities on campus and allocation of funds through elected student offices.”
The petition, spearheaded by “Students Against Socialist Alternative”, makes multiple serious allegations of predatory and cult-like behaviour. The most serious of these is that SAlt defends paedophilia – referencing a 2005 article published on the Socialist Alternative website titled “Children and sex”. Written by National Executive member Sandra Bloodworth – who also wrote key policy documents for SAlt and spoke at this year’s Marxism Conference – the article critiques age of consent laws, arguing that children should be allowed to have consensual relationships with adults.
It goes into concerning detail, even describing types of sexual intimacy that children may enjoy. Bloodworth also references a real-life scenario, where a teacher in her thirties was jailed for having a sexual relationship with one of her 15-year-old male students. Bloodworth defended this, saying that the teacher should not have been jailed once the student confirmed the relationship was consensual.
It is important to note that this article has been removed from Socialist Alternative’s previous catalogues and can only be found using an internet archive.
Students Against Socialist Alternative’s petition argues that Bloodworth’s article points to a culture that defends paedophilia and predatory practices, asking, “Do we trust such an organisation to continue recruiting young and impressionable students for the foreseeable future?”
The petition also claims that SAlt have co-opted the pro-Palestine movement for their own gain. According to Students Against Socialist Alternative, members of SAlt’s National Executive have allegedly described Israel’s invasion and occupation of Gaza as a “gift to left-wing activists”.
These allegations emerge in light of the ongoing QUT Guild Studentelections, where SAlt are campaigning as “Left Action Free Palestine!”
According to various sources, SAlt’s campaigning has become aggressive, especially toward other parties also running in the election. Marshall Leeson, the Revive candidate for the Engagement Officer and NUS Delegate positions, told Glass that he had to call security twice in one day due to harassment from SAlt candidates.
Allegedly, Leeson was called several derogatory names by Isabella Foley, the current QUT Guild Education Officer and the Left Action Free Palestine! candidate for the CIESJ Councillor and NUS Delegate roles. According to Leeson, Foley called him a “sexist piece of shit”, “liberal scum”, and a “sexist pig”.
Leeson also claims that Georgie Dobbs, the Left Action Free Palestine! candidate for the Environment Officer and NUS Delegate roles, said, “I’m sorry you exist.”
He claims that SAlt also interrupted his conversations with students “to abuse and harass” him.
This behaviour qualifies as “misbehaviour” under the Guild Election Regulations, which states that nominees can be disqualified for verbal abuse of another candidate. The Regulations state that any candidate found guilty of misbehaviour may face instant disqualification, as determined by the Returning Officer [an external and unbiased person who oversees the elections].
But Leeson isn’t the only one complaining about SAlt’s aggressive campaign strategy.
Multiple posts to QUT Love Letters, a Facebook page for QUT students to anonymously write about people they’ve seen on campus, called out SAlt for harassment, asking for help avoiding the group. One student even noted that they are now “TERRIFIED” of walking through Gardens Point campus because of the insistence of Socialist Alternative members.
Another, though posted before the campaigning for the election kicked off, said that they were followed by SAlt members, even after refusing to talk to them. SAlt often has stalls set up at the front of campus, where they try to recruit students to their cause.
In addition to this, it was found that SAlt had a non-QUT student on campus campaigning for the Student Representative Council positions on their behalf. This also goes against the Regulations, which state only current QUT students may campaign on behalf of a nominee.
Glass can confirm that the Returning Officer was made aware of this non-student and has been monitoring the campaigners.
Over on Instagram, there are a range of accounts dedicated to pointing out the underhanded and “cult”-like practices of Socialist Alternative as a whole. @socialist_alternative_, @fauxialist_alternative, and @profagandist all detail allegations of abuse, coercive control, and even shadow economy activity.
@fauxialist_alternative, in particular, has called out SAlt for rebranding as Left Action Free Palestine!, claiming that they’re capitalising on the genocide occurring in Palestine to recruit more people into Socialist Alternative. Calling it “a blatant move to manipulate left-wing students into supporting them”, a particular post by this account includes screenshots of emails that urge SAlt members to use pro-Palestine demonstrations as an opportunity to enlist more members.
At the time of publication, 405 people have signed Students Against Socialist Alternative’s petition.
QUT Socialist Alternative/Left Action Free Palestine! did not respond to Glass’ request for comment.
Glass attempted to reach both Sandra Bloodworth and Students Against Socialist Alternative for comment, but was unable to successfully contact them.
