Labor
SOCIALISTS SLAUGHTERED: Evil empire falls to patriotic coalition at Melbourne University
Stunned Socialist Left operatives are licking their wounds and shredding their secret papers this morning after a stunning defeat at the University of Melbourne Student Union, once considered their heartland.
Synergy (comprising Liberals and Student Unity) ticket won all the office-bearer positions they contested -
- President (Jesse Overton Skinner),
- Secretary (Lydia Bevege),
- Welfare (Rachael Lim and Lloyd McGeary),
- Education Officer (Public) (Yoni Cukierman and Josh Anderson) (and
- Education Officer (Academic) (John Shipp and Rudy Hosri)
The once-feared Labor Left aligned operation at the University has been run out of town by a merry band of moderates, a joyful coalition of Labor Right and Liberal students. Their coalition has humbled the daggy group of clipboard wielding SL bureaucrats, shaming a supposedly professional political machine and revealing its operators to be not half as smart as they had once loudly claimed.
As the Presidential ballot for the University of Melbourne Student Union elections was declared on Friday night, the faces of Labor Left flag bearers grew increasingly ashen-faced. The workers’ flag may be deepest red, but there was none so shame-faced as a vanquished commissar. An era was over.
Screams and whistles of victory rang out in the distance. A perfect storm had brewed, and student moderates had fearlessly ushered themselves through gaping holes in Union House left behind by a year of splits, controversy, purges and political paralysis.
THE SWEETEST VICTORY OF ALL
At 10pm on Friday night, the victory was clear. Of the thousands of votes cast in the Presidential ballot, the Labor Right’s Jesse Overton-Skinner sat ahead by 141 votes – the 52/48 win one of the closest, and arguably the most contested, in recent memory. This is considered a landslide compared with the victory of VEXNEWS publisher Andrew Landeryou, so long ago it can be barely be remembered, were he won by 55 votes, on the second-last preferences of a fundamentalist Christian ticket who only slightly preferred him over a devil-worshipping communist.
Overton-Skinner headed a golden coalition that split generously paid Office-Bearer positions between students of the Melbourne University Liberal Club, and its Unity-aligned Labor Club. The remainder was filled by a handful of disillusioned left-wingers and a gathering of talented international student advocates.
The win marked the first triumph for moderate Labor students at Melbourne in years – a painful path that once saw splits and division, a swag of bronze medals, and a highly controversial history. For the Liberals, an annual succession of impressive, expensive but ultimately doomed campaigns finally paid off.
A clean sweep of Office-Bearers ensured during the weekend’s count. Outright control of the all-important Students Council was the final blow to a demoralised Left, who according to insiders, have all been exhibiting the seven stages of grief via Facebook status updates.
The victory confirmed but one fact: When the two foremost political units operating on campuses –Student Unity and the Australian Liberal Students Federation – are together committed, cohesive and cold-blooded, then they are utterly unstoppable.
ANNUS HORRIBILIS
Union insiders tell VEXNEWS the last nine months will serve as a helpful guide to the incoming President, as one incoming OB noted, on “How to Lose Elections and Alienate People”. In 2009, every move was a misstep for the brains trust headed by self-important lolcat lover Onagh Bishop and low-cut garment wearer Carla Drakeford.
Key socialist errors:
■ Crafty caucus manipulators tend not to purge powerful members simply for expressing slight disagreement.
■ Responsible administrators of organisations do not graft thousands from crucial budgets and send it off campus.
■ Reasonable representatives of students do not sift union funds to anti-Zionist associations or legal fees for police bashers.
But crafty, responsible and reasonable they were not. Their job was not only to oversee a union, but also to administer a political machine. That machine was last seen sputtering to a creaking halt in the ballot room, fuelled by poor judgment and not the premium unleaded required.
On Friday night, when the ballots were being counted the Left fled the Presidential count filled with self-loathing and shock. Working in a shameful love triangle with the Socialist Alternative and the Greens, they thought their win was assured despite a reign of error that produced a mood for change. But the self-assured and smug optimism evident in their all-singing, all-dancing campaign video bonanza (found at the tragic www.standup2010.org) was closed on opening night.
The Socialist Left of the ALP has a zealous ideological commitment to the reward of failure. Despite being captain of the sinking ship, their failed President Carla Drakeford will apparently be proposed by them as their candidate to rule the Australian National Union of Students.
MODERATE HEROES
Leading the charge for freedom was Labor Club President Jesse Overton-Skinner, Liberal Club President John Shipp, Victorian Student Unity convenor Xavier Williams and Liberal Club Vice-President Lydia Bevege to thank. Old hands Gideon Rozner and Michael de Bruyn also deserve a nod. Rozner told his many Twitter followers:
Mmmm socialist tears, feels so good on my skin.
Add to that list a large group of freedom fighting Office-Bearer, Council and Committee candidates on the ‘Synergy’ ticket, and an army of selfless full-time campaigners, many giving up their week not for any position or remuneration, but through sheer, unshakable faith in the cause of liberating their Union from soulless, bunging and unprincipled leftists who’d been in for too long, governing without a clue.
As the incoming President, Jesse now measures the drapes in the Union House office occupied by many patriots past from Corio MP Richard Marles, ALP Head Office staffer Scott Crawford, successful property developer Benjamin Cass, ministerial staffer Lizzie Blandthorn, former Foreign Minister Gareth Evans and the nation’s longest-serving Prime Minister Sir Robert Menzies.
Overton-Skinner has until handover date of January 1 to reflect on a great victory and to prepare for another, by holding down one of the trickiest jobs in student politics . Similarly, as the convenor of the Labor Right’s student faction, Xavier Williams can claim a history-making term where he slayed the socialist dragon, after years of its fiery reign.
The pair have toiled since January on defeating the Left’s Evil Empire. Overton-Skinner’s work in forming strong ties with Liberal students and capitalising on purges within the Socialist Left’s own caucus set the stage for a strong showing in election week. Within the Right, their legacies are secure: they won Melbourne back for the moderates.
A bright future also awaits Liberal Club President and incoming student union office-bearer John Shipp. In 1977, Peter Costello plotted to overthrow Monash’s student union as ‘Centre Unity’, a ticket anchored by the Liberals and Labor Right and comprising campus Christians, Jews and disillusioned social democrats angry at a union hijacked by the extreme left.
And, like Peter Costello before him, Shipp won, also defeating socialists in their stronghold. On Friday, he would have been granted life membership of the Liberal’s famed Council of Old Hands. The Melbourne University Liberal Club is a factory for devastatingly sharp political operators and imminent parliamentary ascendants, and Shipp is next in line in our view.
DOWN TO THE WIRE
The count was close. Closer than most expected, as the Left weathered a weak Friday on the ground but bounced back in the ballot room. Labor moderate insiders are fully aware of the dimension of the challenge ahead of them, one saying “The re-election campaign for 12 months time begins today. Overton-Skinner must run a tight ship (no pun intended). In a year’s time, she’ll need to point to something that is her team’s own work. Her job is to make ‘Synergy’ the rule, not the exception.”
The Left’s typical reaction to defeat at Melbourne Uni is never polite or dignified. They frequently resort to violence, invented accusations of corruption and threats in order to undermine their foes. While not always successful, their game plan is almost always the same. History teaches us they will strike back with a vengeance but whether the losers who came up with StandUp’s rock eisteddfod style campaign will be able to assemble a reactionary opposition of any value remains to be seen.
Whatever they try on, the good operator Jesse Overton-Skinner will be ready for anything and will be keenly supported by a patriotic wider community of moderates who will never again allow the bravehearts at Melbourne Uni, fighting for freedom, to stand alone.
And anyone questioning the Labor Right’s decision to rekindle past vows and work with the Liberals in coalition like days of old must consider the actions of the Socialist Left. At every opportunity this year, its members lined up to support the viciously anti-Israel and extremist Socialist Alternative, who seek the violent overthrow of democracy and the Australian way of life. A sleazy secret deal to usher them into office was signed by the Labor Left in March. Voters showed their disgust and rejected this odious arrangement.
At Melbourne University in 2009, the impossible has been achieved. A Right wrongly lumped with the blame for the MUSU ’scandal’, where members of the Socialist Left voted to liquidate one of the nation’s largest student unions in order to score political scalps, was a tarnished brand for years. Two years ago, the Right on campus could have fit in a phone box. Now they are back, bigger and better than ever.
Salt-water wells in our eyes.
Discussion
55 comments for “SOCIALISTS SLAUGHTERED: Evil empire falls to patriotic coalition at Melbourne University”
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I heard Labor right got the presidency, and the Liberals got most, if not all of the other important positions?
A victory for the true believers… I personally blame Zoe
There needs to be more Incerti in this story. The man is a savant, but in a good way. A thinking man’s Antony Green.
Where was Bruno? 30 votes, mate, you could have won for Stand Up if you turned out during the week. Instead, you literally handballed the campaigning to your mum.
President to Unity, Secretary to Liberals, Welfare + Education officers shared by 2 Labor & Liberal each, 2 Labor & 2 Liberal on students council, international student vote giving the right control
very well written article by Maxfield!
How long until Skinner disappears to Hong Kong with $1 million of union money to invest on the stock market?
Lefties get whipped…but really..who cares?
Uni politics is dull these days…and frankly, look at those prats…
As my Grandpappy used to say, “You can’t polish a turd”
was clearly written by a Lib
I’m stuck on Mt Feathertop. No one has realised yet.
Interesting result. *Thumbs up*
As if Maxfield has the mental dexterity to write an article like that! Look elsewhere, Anon
Well done team. How on earth did you guys win an election? I’d love to know.
So glad to see the trots out of power. Been charging round uni all morning feeling smug and smiling excessively at the Conquered Ones. Especially waiting to see one in particular… Well, two. Actually most of them
My campaigning should have got my son elected. Where did I go wrong?
I used the line, ‘Do you want to vote left-wing today?’
I told the Synergy campaigners to ‘fuck off’, ‘go to hell’, and that they were ‘fascist scum’
I abused a voter when he asked about the policies of Stand Up
How could he have lost?
Congrats guys!
Lets hope deBruyn pulls the numbers at his other university, VU.
well written De Bruyn
“Responsible administrators of organisations do not graft thousands from crucial budgets and send it off campus.”
Sounds more like Shaun.
well written xw
Shit! This could trigger a domino effect down Swanston St. First Melboure uni falls to these scum bags, will RMIT be next?
I better freshen up my dreads, pop in some eye drops and start organising my Ticket! This is going to be a close one.
Mommies little secret: fair enough you cant polish a turd, but you sure can roll it in glitter!!!!
Bruno happens to be overseas at the moment.
Not a bad idea, given StandUp’s annihilation.
well written JOS
JOS happens to be interstate at the moment.
Unity partnered up with a Lib this year at VU and are working fine. Lets hope the Kings of Leon kick the arse of the opposition ticket made up of lefty sympathisers and a Family First member.
Another triumph for me!
Excellent coverage, however by the ‘Greens’ (in the shameful love-triangle) I think you mean Activate a grassroots left ticket, not actually affiliated with the Greens party. The only Greens at Melbourne Uni are the Greens On Campus, a club, which didn’t endorse any ticket and are not a ticket themselves.
i sucked up to JOS. Doesn’t matter who it is – i’m so talentless i need to to get ahead
fake hugh. . .. . Lame! and Fail!
Hi NLS,
As many of you will have heard by now, Stand Up! have lost their
current office bearing positions in the elections at UniMelb last
week.
Unity joined with the Liberals (Synergy), international students
(iUnion), a media ticket (SWIPE), a queer ticket (Pride) and More
Activities to form a Right-Block.
It was obvious that the amazing Stand Up campaigners were the most
successful of the Left Block, which was made up of NLS, SA and
Melbourne’s own special breed of Grassroots activists called Activate.
Stand Up won Indigenous Officer (Jidah Clark) and University Council
(Michael Griffith).
Every position that Synergy contested against the Left they won. This
includes President (by 112 votes), Secretary (by 56) and Education
Academic (by 30). These are hardly convincing victories considering
they played dirty, didn’t follow the regulations and out-numbered us
4-1.
Synergy smashed Socialist Alternative by a 400 vote margin for
Education Public Affairs; as well as winning Welfare by a 300 vote
margin against Activate.
However, Activate won Queer, Women’s, Arts and Environment against
iUnion. So the Left hasn’t completely lost their stake in the Union.
So the break down of Office Bearers:
President – Unity
Sec – Liberal
Ed Ac – Lib and Unity
Ed Pub – Lib and Unity
Welf – Lib and Unity
Arts: Activate
Queer: Activate
Women’s: Activate
Envrio: Activate
Indigenous: Stand Up!
Media: Independent Media
Clubs: More Activities (this position was uncontested)
Activities: More Activities (this position was uncontested)
Committee positions are all over the place, but Stand Up was able to
secure 2 positions out of 7 on most committees.
Students’ Council will have a right-wing majority, and Stand Up! has 2
positions out of 18.
Last but not least we got 2 NUS delegates.
Hope everyone else’s elections go well!
Carla xoxo
Carla Drakeford = FAIL.
To be fair, I am pretty talented at kissing arse.
lay off hugh
.
I’M THE PRESIDENT OF UNILIFE!!!
Wangman you are a true Patriot! bring those delegates baby.
This is the beginning of The Decline and Fall of the NLS Empire.
You heard it here first.
“Every position that Synergy contested against the Left they won.”
TRUE. The decline of NLS at Melbourne is complete. As a prospective candidate for NUS President, hardly something you should be highlighting, Carla.
“These are hardly convincing victories considering
they played dirty, didn’t follow the regulations”
FALSE. Stand Up were banned on two occasions for illegal campaigning inside the polling booth – a desperate attempt to cheat the electoral process and hold onto power. Who knows how long they were doing it before they were caught. Synergy, whilst banned only once, were penalised for a fairly innocuous oversight of failing to print ‘Please Recycle’ on a small number of how to vote cards. The margin of the victory was convincing, and whilst Synergy may have outnumbered Stand Up campaigners, when the Trots and Activate campaigners (who endorsed Stand Up for their positions) were factored in, the numbers were a lot closer. Additionally the desperate negative campaign against Synergy that started on day 1 regarding ‘bankrupting the union’, ‘corruption’, etc hurt the Synergy brand.
Finally, it is unfortunate that a large number of Synergy voters (iUnion international students) were confused by the convoluted ballot paper process, and 600 INFORMAL votes were registered for President. It can be assumed the VAST majority of these were registered by confused overseas students who intended to cast their vote for allies of iUnion, Synergy. An argument for a simplified balloting system, for sure.
“the Left hasn’t completely lost their stake in the Union.”
FALSE. NLS has lost it’s stake, I didn’t realise that Activate were a part of your faction. Especially hilarious given this was sent over a NLS email list apparently.
“Students’ Council will have a right-wing majority, and Stand Up! has 2
positions out of 18.”
HILARIOUS. A true indicator of the Stand Up polling, when only 2 people of 18 were elected.
“Every position that Synergy contested against the Left they won.”
TRUE. The decline of NLS at Melbourne is complete. As a prospective candidate for NUS President, hardly something you should be highlighting, Carla.
“These are hardly convincing victories considering
they played dirty, didn’t follow the regulations”
FALSE. Stand Up were banned on two occasions for illegal campaigning inside the polling booth – a desperate attempt to cheat the electoral process and hold onto power. Who knows how long they were doing it before they were caught. Synergy, whilst banned only once, were penalised for a fairly innocuous oversight of failing to print ‘Please Recycle’ on a small number of how to vote cards. The margin of the victory was convincing, and whilst Synergy may have outnumbered Stand Up campaigners, when the Trots and Activate campaigners (who endorsed Stand Up for their positions) were factored in, the numbers were a lot closer. Additionally the desperate negative campaign against Synergy that started on day 1 regarding ‘bankrupting the union’, ‘corruption’, etc hurt the Synergy brand.
Finally, it is unfortunate that a large number of Synergy voters (iUnion international students) were confused by the convoluted ballot paper process, and 600 INFORMAL votes were registered for President. It can be assumed the VAST majority of these were registered by confused overseas students who intended to cast their vote for allies of iUnion, Synergy. An argument for a simplified balloting system, for sure.
“the Left hasn’t completely lost their stake in the Union.”
FALSE. NLS has lost it’s stake, I didn’t realise that Activate were a part of your faction. Especially hilarious given this was sent over a NLS email list apparently.
“Students’ Council will have a right-wing majority, and Stand Up! has 2
positions out of 18.”
HILARIOUS. A true indicator of the Stand Up polling, when only 2 people of 18 were elected.
Just a correction-
“Every position that Synergy contested against the Left they won.”
This is incorrect. Activate won the Wom*n’s officer position by a significant margin against Synergy candidates.
done
By Left, she meant NLS.
Also the line about ‘2 out of 7 on most committees’ is also a lie. They got 2 out of 7 on 1 committee (Education). For everything else they got 1 or none.
Carla your (sic) my hero!
If you take out the experienced campaigners (lolcat, miniskrit ect.)from stand up either at the end of this year or next year stand up becomes irrelevant. They’re next generation is hopeless by comparison to the liberal and labor right first and second year students. If the cards are played correctly the coalition will rule for a very long time. Btw does anyone know the name of the Stand Up turd who was not actively campaigning with curly hair. Hes a disgrace.
Please don’t talk in such a way about my son you rat of the Howard years!
http://tinypic.com/view.php?pic=htw94h&s=5
Bruno got out of campaigning last year because he was on crutches. This year he was just MIA. If I was an ALP Club type or a Stand Up caucus member I’d be livid that a piker like this bloke was preselected for a paid position and contributed nothing on the ground. Substituting his mum in was some sort of sick joke, surely? She was repulsive, aggressive and plain nasty to voters and opposition campaigners alike.
If Bruno is out of the country (which in itself was a disgrace), he certainly didn’t bother to register a postal vote. Oh the hilarity if it had have been closer…
Political incompetance at it’s finest. The time and effort spent on that ridiculous website and embarrassing video, if focused on the voters, may have made it just a little bit closer. Live and learn losers.
All I can say is this:
http://www.standup2010.org
OWNED.
30 votes Bruno!
You shouldn’t have gone to Amsterdam.
lolcat
@anon sept16 9.08
i believe it has been pulled down. did you have a printscreen?
Has anybody considered that Independent Media, who (while not a political entity) were supported and preferenced by Stand Up! and the left, won Media Office over Synergy-allied SWIPE by more than 500 out of around 2500 votes, along with a council seat? Pretty decent for a ticket that had about ten people campaigning for it.
Again, not quite a clean sweep.
Has anybody considered that Independent Media has relevance deprivation syndrome?
“Stand Up was able to
secure 2 positions out of 7 on most committees”
Wrong in every case except for Education Committee — Carla lost the Wom*n’s Committee recount so StandUp! only have 1 rep on Activites, Arts, Environment, Queer, Welfare & Wom*n’s Committees.
S-WIPE(my arse with the rag) wasn’t supported by all of the ‘right wing’ bloc, More Activities chose not to support SWIPE. All those in the know, know that it was a spite ticket and not worth support.