I usually don't like to post if the conversation has a justified flow, but I felt like I needed to clarify a few things.
Firstly, labor-left has won 4 presidents and not 7 in the last 7 years. The two before (excluding Luke Whitington- because of the way he had to be brought in to power) ran with broad left and labor left and decided to join the labor-left in the later half of their terms. Of course, this doesn't make any difference.
Secondly, Justin it is easy to say the NLS has run on same policies without acknowledging their hard work. Of course, they've had a few core ideologies (such as no tolerance against discrimination), but so have the broad left and the liberals. But there have also always been fresh ideas and plans like this year, for eg, for international students, 'NOW!' is running on getting the SRC to provide free migration advice like free legal advice, campaigning for more accommodation around campus from university and better language support by the faculty(three most relevant issues to international students). We have already been campaigning for the latter two (in our meetings with International office and John Hearn - you'll notice in MyUni if you are an international student) and the first one is in works but has to wait till the financial agreements are panned out.
Again, thats where Sara and the broad left lack experience and the diplomacy needed for working on the agreements, negotiating with the University and planning re-location to USyd Central early next year for the funding that Angus has been successful in achieving for the next three years. These discussions have to be carried out and signed by early next year and given Kate's experience in the Senate Liaison Committee, she would be able to negotiate well. In fact, Debrah Lamborn from DVC Community's office asked Angus to run again or make sure "our" candidate got elected so that SRC's future is not at stake. More importantly Kate's and "NOW!"'s ideas are a lot more relevant to campus than Sara's.
When you talk about the increase in pay of SRC officers Justin, in my last three years here the pay of the president has remained the same and the number of paid office bearer positions have gone down to 4! In fact, the past two years there have been two office bearers sharing each for two of those positions which means even lesser pay for the amount of work these OBs put in. You'd know if you attend execs Justin(and please don't say that you've not been given notice- because I can produce evidence against that) how much work the OBs have been putting in this year.
Of course there are a lot more reasons why one should vote for Kate and NOW! over others. I agree with people when they say 'change is important'. But it is important to realise that over the last 4 years there have been different styles of leadership and different presidents have achieved various things. If it wasn't for Angus or Nick, the SRC wouldn't be able to provide the services at the same level it does. Also, the libs wouldn't be talking about the Book shop now if Nick hadn't worked hard on getting it in its current location to earn money for student welfare at Sydney Uni. And Kate at the same level can bring in quite a different level of leadership which could see a sealed financial future for the SRC.
Justin, if the libs spent their time more constructively by talking with students and campaigning harder instead of chalking "Kate is a slut" or "Kate <- whore", I'm sure you could get more than 10%.
