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.
Over the past 12 months, we have witnessed Israel unleash its deadliest onslaught against the Palestinian people in decades. Israel’s reign of terror is not just confined to the Gaza Strip; record numbers of illegal settlements have been set up in the West Bank, and most recently it has declared war on Lebanon as well, its airstrikes on Lebanese towns and villages killing hundreds of innocent civilians.
Israel’s ongoing, indiscriminate violence is made possible by Western forces unconditionally providing political, military, and economic support. This includes not just the Australian government, but also Australian universities with links to the weapons manufacturers that profiteer off war and bloodshed. QUT openly advertises its research partnerships with companies like Caterpillar, which produces the military bulldozers that demolish Palestinian homes, and the US Air Force, which actively provides support to the Israeli Defense Forces.
Despite the Special General Meeting where students voted overwhelmingly against the university’s ties with weapons companies, QUT has been radio silent on the matter. That means the fight for divestment has only just begun, and that’s why we need activists in the Guild to continue that fight. That’s why I’m running in the Guild elections – as a left-wing activist, I am committed to holding our university accountable, fighting for social justice, and protecting the rights of students.
Left Action Free Palestine! are the main drivers behind the campaign to kick weapons companies off campus. We’ve also participated in the UQ Gaza Solidarity Encampment, and shown solidarity with the dozens of refugees and asylum seekers fighting for permanent protection in Brisbane. We believe that our education should not be stained with blood. We stand against war, imperialism, and all forms of oppression. If that’s what you believe in, vote for Left Action Free Palestine.
