Spicy Stu-pol Beef Inevitable As All Four Tickets Lock In For 2024 ANUSA Election Debate

Written by Finn Slattery-O’Brien

The leaves are returning to the trees along Uni Ave; sunlight glistens off the suspiciously opaque surface of Sully’s while ducklings paddle in the lazy flow of the warming water. Finally, spring has sprung! (Just kidding, it’s ANUSA elections again). 

And before voting opens on 30 September (and closes on 3 October), we have the annual debate!

Come along and see your favourite stu-pol kids battle it out on Friday 20 September, and if you can’t make it in person, you can witness it in all its live-streamed glory. With Liberal, Labor, SAlt and the Grindies all set to take the stage, this debate is guaranteed fun for all the family. 

The debate will feature candidates for all the ANUSA positions most students can name, and some they can’t, including President, Vice-President, General Secretary, Welfare Officer, Education Officer, and ANUSA Ute Driver (though maybe not the last one). 

Separate, pre-recorded debates for other executive positions (including Treasurer and Clubs Officer) will occur in the weeks leading up to the live event.

The participating tickets are as follows:

• Serve for ANUSA  – Grassroots independent aligned ticket. 
• Change your ANUSA – Labor aligned ticket. 
• Progress for ANUSA – Liberal aligned ticket. 
• Left Action for ANUSA – Socialist Alternative aligned ticket.

The 2024 edition of the debate will be run by both Observer and Woroni. 

This year’s debate will also mark the fifth anniversary of debate collaboration between the two student media associations (we love an enemies-to-lovers story arc).

Both mastheads will also be broadcasting the debate across their social media networks. 

The election debate represents an important opportunity for students to see the candidates in context and gauge their standing on many issues across campus life.

The debate also helps many undecided or swing voters make a decision on the candidates. Many regularly decide not to vote. 

While Observer considered replacing the usual contest of ideas with a UFC style fight to the death, budget cuts due to the recently announced cap on international student numbers have made the procurement of a rage cage unfeasible.  

Instead, candidates will be given the opportunity to present opening statements. After which, all candidates will respond to:

• a universal seen question
• an individual unseen question
• another individual unseen question. 

Time permitting, candidates will also have an opportunity to present closing statements. All candidates will be given the right of reply when one is asked.

The Debate kicks off at 6pm on Friday 20 September. The location will be the Marie Reay top level Superfloor. 

Again, for those who cannot attend in person, it will be streamed on Observer and Woroni social media accounts – ours will be through our Facebook.

Anyway, that’s the debate. Gonna be a blast.

Graphics by Annisa Zatalini

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