Melbourne University ALP Club

ALP Club now has its own website

2007-05-30T08:26:00.000+10:00

The ALP Club now has its own website.

You can see it here.

We'll see you over there.

ED CONFERENCE FUNDRAISER

2005-05-27T18:06:00.000+10:00

“State of the Union"
A Film by Gary Newman about the 2003 MUSU Elections

Friday 3 June
6:30pm for a 7:30pm start

The Green Building, 60 Leicester Street Carlton
$10 Waged, $5 for students
Beer and Wine available
Tickets available on the night

URGENT CAMPAIGN FOR ALL SUPPORTERS OF A HUMANITARIAN ASYLUM SEEKERS POLICY

2005-05-27T17:39:00.000+10:00

TELL FEDERAL LABOR: SUPPORT PETRO GEORGIOUS'S PRIVATE MEMBER'S BILL AS A STEP TOWARDS A MORE COMPASSIONATE APPROACH TO ASYLUM SEEKERS
www.labor4refugees.org/campaign

Liberal backbencher Petro Georgiou will introduce two Private Member's Bill
to the Commonwealth Parliament which aim to fundamentally change Australia's
system of processing asylum seekers. These proposals would end indefinite
immigration detention, release children from detention and allow refugees
who have been granted temporary protection to live in the community
permanently.

Clearly this represents a significant step forward, but Labor has so far
refused to offer full support for the Georgiou Private Member's Bill. You
can help! Visit: www.labor4refugees.org/campaign/ to send a message directly
to the Federal ALP: Labor should support these Bills as a step towards a
more compassionate policy for asylum seekers!
All supporters of the campaign for a humanitarian approach to refugees and
asylum seekers should get active in this campaign.

2005-05-25T11:25:00.000+10:00

Tom's letter to Gaving Jennings:

The Hon. Gavin Jennings, MLC
Minister for Aboriginal Affairs,

I am writing in regards to the situation which has come about between the Victorian Museum and the Dja Dja Wurrung people. My name is Thomas Arup and I am a Labor party member and one the executive of the Melbourne University ALP club as Campaign’s Officer. I am writing to implore you to take action and uphold the Aboriginal and Torres Straight Islander Heritage Protection Act of 1984, which has enabled the Dja Dja Wurrung people to put an emergency declaration upon the bark etchings and the emu figure on loan from the British Museum. I ask that you uphold this legislation and allow these pieces remain in Victoria.

I write with some urgency as I have just heard of the Federal courts decesion. I believe the ruling, that the cycle of emergency declerations cannot be upheld by law, does not override the legislation but rather just stop the declerations. It places you in an incredible important situation in keeping the etchings in Australia and I plead with you to uphold the legislation as quickly and strongly as you can. It is upon you as the minister to uphold good legislation which was implemented for worthy reasons.

Firstly, the Dja Dja Wurrung people have a right to be in possession of their cultural heritage, a heritage which has been stolen by the British museum. This right is the basis for the legislation in which they have claimed the bark etchings. While I understand there is a legal contract between the British museum and the Victorian museum, the law is also geared to protecting the rights of indigenous groups and their history in ways contract law cannot. I am sure you also understand that cultural heritage is not just about the physical manifestation in the form of these etchings, but rather tied into the belief system of indigenous people of this nation. These pieces are a link to their ancestors, a spiritual link, and it is wrong deny them this link.

Secondly the British museum has no right to hold these pieces, which were taken without consent of the Dja Dja Wurrung, and this, in a better world, would constitute theft. The British museum will not place these pieces on exhibition, and in fact didn’t even know that they had possession of them for many decades. Furthermore there has only been two research papers written on the barks since they have been held at the British museum, and this does not constitute a reason to continue to hold them when compared to the importance they have here in Victoria.

Thirdly as an active Victorian citizen I believe they are part of my cultural heritage, not just for the Dja Dja Wurrung people. They represent the past of Victoria, a part of history which is often overlooked, that of the Indigenous people and the occupation of Westerners. It would be incredible if these pieces, unique in their rarity, would be exhibited publicly, and would go some way to broadening the average Victorian’s knowledge about the Aboriginal past of the state.

Furthermore this small symbolic act to the Dja Dja Wurrung, would constitute a symbolic gesture towards the Aboriginal community, something lacking in today’s political environment on both sides of politics. If the Government needs to buy out the contract between the British museum and the Victorian museum (the figure I have been informed is 3.2 million dollars) then it would be a small price to pay to reclaim part of Victorian heritage and many other governments have payed much larger sums for other works. This sum is also little when compared to the enormous benefit it would have for the Dja Dja Wurrung people.

Finally if you were to act in favour of the Dja Dja Wurrung people, it would constitute a political gain for the Labor party in Indigenous affairs, and furthermore a win for the left side of the Labor party. And while this shouldn’t be the primary focus of acting in this case it would be a good off shoot. Publicly you would also be bringing home a piece of Victoria that Victorians have not been able to enjoy. You have an incredible opportunity to provide this for the public.

I write this with the backing of my ALP club colleagues who are strong active Labor party members, and strong active members of the left, and I look forward to your reply. I will continue to take a very personal interest in this case and inform my party colleagues.

Yours Sincerely,

Thomas Arup
Melbourne University ALP Club Campaigns Officer.

2005-05-24T11:40:00.000+10:00

That's right folks the blog is back in action again.... so what a better thing to start off a new round of posting with an advertisement for our upcoming event

What: End of Semester Pub Night with BOARD GAMES!!!!

When: Thursday 26th May (that's this Thursday)

Where: PA's (The pub on Grattan st, opposite uni)

Time: 6pm onward

Not only are we giving you a chance to swill beer with your fellow comrades, it's also a chance put your board game prowess to the test

That's right board games and beer

What could be better!

BYO Board Games

2005-02-21T21:14:00.000+11:00

O-Week Activities

Thursday 24 Feb

BBQ Lunch with Jenny Macklin, Deputy Leader of the ALP
2:30 - 3:30PM, South Lawns

Friday 25 Feb

Casual Drinks @ Deep Dish Lounge
3PM onwards

2005-01-28T10:34:00.000+11:00

Politics in the Pub

with Young Labor Left

Relaxed drinks with other, young labor left members, supporters & people interested in Young Labor Left & our activities.

Speakers:

Brian Daley, Secretary, Victorian Branch LHMU & President, Victorian Branch of the ALP

Jenny Macklin, Federal Member for Jaga Jaga, Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Shadow Minister for Education, Training, Science & Research.

Friday 28 January, from 7PM @ Trades Hall Bar, Crn Lygon and Victoria Streets.

See you there.

2004-11-22T17:19:00.000+11:00

Committee By-election

Congratulations to Steve Mercer for being elected to the ALP Club committee.

This result was announced by the by-election returning officer, Shasta Stevic, at the last ALP Club General Meeting.

2004-10-24T20:38:00.000+10:00

2004 ISRC Election Victory for the Left

Provisional Results from ISRC Election

Activities: Sebastian Saliba and Scott Gavens
Arts: Katie Sfetkidis
Chair: Paul Donegan
Clubs and Societies: Clancy Dobbyn and Ginny Lin
Education (Academic Affairs): Dave McDonald
Education (Public Affairs): Lizzie O'Shea
Environment: Imogen Hamel-Green and Bill Bretherton
Farrago: Jim Round, Tom Rigby, Clare Chandler and Zoe Holman
Queer: Alex Ettling and Tracey Boyd
Secretary: Katie Wood
Welfare: Felicity Grey
Women's: Shasta Stevic and Jordy Sliverstein

University Council: Ben Barnett

MUSASC:
Caitlyn O'Dowd
Shasta Stevic
Paul Pallot
Adam Wieladek
Alex White
Georgia Letten

You will notice of course that with the exception of the Liberal Club campaign manager Georgia Letten (also incumbent Women's Officer), the left took every Office Bearer position and Committee spot.

Without a declaration from the University, the final numbers aren't certain, but reports from scrutineers indicate that the left picked up around 65% of the primary vote.

Congratulations to our wonderful campaign leaders, Susie Munro and Paul Erickson, and to the dedicated ALP Club campaigners who turned up every day at 8AM and worked hard until close of polls each day, in particular Shasta Stevic, Jessie Giles, Josh Cusack, Caitlyn O'Dowd, Georgia Poletti, Will Ross, Dave McDonald, Adam Wieladek, Ben Barnett, Graeme Cuxton, Katie Sfetkidis, and Tim O'Halloran (and to anyone else I've forgotten).

Thank you also to the other lefties who campaigned hard during election week and contributed to our stunning success.

2004-10-10T16:28:00.000+10:00

2003 STUDENT ELECTIONS DOCUMENTARY

STATE OF THE UNION
A film by Gary Newman following the 2003 MUSU elections

WORLD PREMIERE

6:30pm
Grand Buffet Hall, Union House
Entry is Free!

And you can catch up with ALP Club members before the show at INU Bar an hour before.

See you there!

2004-10-02T21:57:00.000+10:00

ALP Club General Meeting

There will be an important General Meeting for the ALP Club this Tuesday 5th October.

When: Tuesday 5 October, 1PM

Where: John Medley Rm 339.

What: A meeting to discuss the next few weeks, including the Federal Election and student interim SRC elections.

All members welcome.

2004-09-26T20:09:00.000+10:00

ALP Club Movie Night Fundraiser

The ALP Club will be holding a pre-student election movie night fundraiser on Thursday 30th of September (that's next Thursday!), as part of the attempt to return progressive forces to Union House.

The details are as follows:

Movie: "The Corporation"
When: Thursday 30th September, starts 9PM (free drinks and nibbles from 8PM)
Where: Nova Cinema, Lygon St, Carlton, in the foyer downstairs
Cost: $16 (includes movie, drinks and nibblies)

You can get details and tickets from Georgia Poletti (g.poletti@ugrad.unimelb.edu.au).

Hope to see you there!

2004-09-09T16:09:00.000+10:00

General Meeting: Wednesday 15 September

There will be an important ALP Club General Meeting next week on Wednesday 15 September, at 1PM at the Babel Building, Room G04.

As more details about the new student union arrive from the Student Representation Working Group emerge, it is necessary that the ALP Club organise for the upcoming student representative elections in October.

All club members welcome.

2004-08-29T11:27:00.000+10:00

General Meeting

The ALP Club will be holding a general meeting on Tuesday 31 August, at 1PM in John Medley room 339.

All members are welcome.

It is expected that there will also be an informal meeting to discuss the new draft student union constitution on the same day. (More details to follow.)

2004-08-08T13:28:00.000+10:00

Burnside on Campus

Innugural Jim Cairns Memorial Lecture

Julian Burnside QC, outspoken refugee, civil rights and asylum seekers advocate, will be giving the first Jim Cairns Memorial Lecture.

Details
Tuesday 17 August
6:30-8PM
RMIT Room 82
Level 3
Building 56
Free Entry

Organised by the Melbourne University ALP Club.

In Association with the Australian Fabian Society, RMIT ALP Club, Monash University ALP Club and La Trobe ALP Club.

For further details contact Caitlyn (cait_05@hotmail.com) or Alex (aw@vurt.net).

2004-08-05T11:23:00.001+10:00

You are invited to

FRIDAY NIGHT AT THE UNION

A play written and Devised by Emily Andersen and the cast

Starring: Emily Andersen, Steve Brown, Will Chapman, Tanya Mammone, Ben Barnett, Ashling Cardwell, Steven Denyer and Andy Arnold.

Being performed as part of '3D Fest 2004'Fresh, Raw and ready to Go! A Drama Festival for Tertiary Students

Fourteen new works by emerging writers and theatre makers

Presented by Playbox Theatre Company & Victoria University

Details
Friday August 6th at 7.30pm
Performing Arts Theatre, Beanland Building Victoria University Footscray Nicholson Campus Buckley Street, Footscray
Doors open at 7pm
Enquiries: 9685 5165

'Friday Night at the Union' will be followed by three other plays.

“Friday Night at the Union”

Cameron Oakes finished his term as President of Batman University Student Union shrouded in controversy, accused of sending the union broke by turning the organic food co-op into a failed dot com venture.

Fast forward to April the next year, and the University is holding fresh student elections, amid an inquiry into Cameron’s conduct.

The student left faction is making a desperate bid to reclaim the union, while the right-wing are campaigning to hold onto their power.

So when the two groups meet at the Union Hotel Friday night before the elections, it’s going to get ugly.

ALP Club Fundraiser

If you'd like to help the ALP Club's financial situation while supporting our talented friends in the play "Friday Night at the Union" please join us for drinks and nibblies before the play.

$10 gets you wine / soft drink and nibblies, plus your play ticket.

RSVP to Jacky on 0409 532 350

General Meeting Update

Due to a clash with the Student Representation Working Group Consultation period, the ALP Club General Meeting was posponed.

Notice will go out for the new time, date and place soon. Stay tuned.

2004-08-02T12:54:00.000+10:00

Students for Change Trivia Night

SFC, the lovable, cuddly lefties behind Activate and the morris dancing posters, are holding a Trivia Night tomorrow night (Tuesday 3rd August).

In great ALP Club style, we will be attending en masse to get our hands on as many prizes as we can.

The details are:

SFC Trivia Night
Prince Aldreds (on Grattan Street)
Tuesday 3 August, 7:30PM
Cost: $5

If you are interested in being a part of the ALP Club contingent, give me a call (Alex: 0403 694 397).

2004-07-30T18:16:00.000+10:00

Notice of General Meeting

That's right buckeroos! The ALP Club will be holding its first official General Meeting this Wednesday 4th of August. It will take place at 1PM in the Joe Napolitano B room on Second Floor of Union House.

An email went over the ALP Club egroup on Wednesday, which outlined some important issues that will be discussed at the meeting.

We encourage as many people as possible to attend this General Meeting, especially new members, as a way to become involved with the club and meet new friends and comrades.

If you did not receive the email regarding the General Meeting, please contact alpclub@gmail.com as soon as possible.

Bullsheet #8

Issue 8 of the Bullsheet is due out at some point next week. Submissions and contributions for #8 will be accepted up until 5PM Monday 2nd August.

The Bullsheet is a contribution based club newsletter. It needs your support. If you have anything you would like to contribute, have seen a great movie or play which you want to review, if you want to share a recipee, comment on current events in Victoria, Australia, abroad or within the university, please consider sending it in. Submissions can be sent to saintalex@gmail.com.

2004-07-24T14:13:00.000+10:00

Semester 2 Club Update: Weeks 1 and 2

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ALP Club BBQ
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The ALP Club will be holding a BBQ this Wednesday (28th July) at 1PM in the Old Geology Courtyard.

There will be sausages, bread, sauce, balloons, and vegetarian options.

A gold coin donation is appreciated.

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General Meeting
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Our first official General Meeting for Semester 2 will be held on Wednesday 4th of August at 1PM, in the Joe Napolitano B room in Union House (2nd Floor).

2004-07-18T15:35:00.000+10:00

ALP Club Caucus

The ALP Club will be holding its first caucus this Monday 19 July at 5PM, at Deep Dish.

Topics for discussions include:

Report Backs:
Education Conference
Student Representation Working Group (Constitution Committee)

Constitutional Stuff

Campaigns
Education Campaign (EAG)
Federal Election
MUSU Student Elections

Activities

Call Josh (0415 292 599) or Caitlyn (0408 334 147) for further details.

2004-07-07T09:18:00.000+10:00

Welcome back to the ALP Club blogspot. Hopefully your exams have gone well and your holidays are relaxing and fun.

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ALP Club Activities for Second Semester
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For details, email alpclub@gmail.com

Disorientation Week

The ALP Club will have a stall on Clubs and Societies Day, Friday 23rd of July for most of the day. This will be in or around Union House. Look out for people in red ALP Club t-shirts.

Pub Night

From 6PM on the same Friday (23rd), we will be having a pub night at the Clyde.

ALP Club BBQ

At 1PM on Wednesday 28th July, there will be an ALP Club BBQ. There will be a gold coin donation, and vegetarian options (if you are so inclined).

General Meeting

On 4th August, the ALP Club will have its first general meeting for Semester Two to discuss the Federal Election, MUSU, and the on going higher education campaign.

If you would like more information on any of these events, email alpclub@gmail.com or call Josh Cusack (President) on 0415 292 599.

2004-06-22T11:45:00.000+10:00

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Carlton Branch Fundraiser
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Be Warned ... But not Alarmed

Be Prepared ... No Relaxed and Comfortable

The "Mammoth" Event for 2004: The Election Special (Helping out the Melbourne and McMillan election campaign)

A football-free Friday night Fundraiser

Trivia Quiz, Auction, Karaoke and Singing Politicians.

Hosted by our Melbourne Pollies.

Join them and bring a singing voice, brain for the quiz and moines for drinks and raffles.

Details
When: 7:30pm, Friday 25th June (THIS FRIDAY!)
Where: La Notte Restaurant, 140 Lygon St, Carlton
Cost: $20 per head

The ALP Club will be organising a table. Contact Alex on 0403 694 397 or aw@vurt.net if you are interested in attending.

2004-06-16T12:52:00.000+10:00

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Left Drinks
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An invitation to all State and Federal Left Caucus Members and staff, Left union members and officials, Young Lefties and student activists, comrades, true believers and fellow travellers.

Details:
When: Friday 18th June @ 6:00pm
Where: Portland Hotel, Cnr Russell St and Lt Collins St, CBD

A limited tab will be placed on the bar.

It'd be great to see as many ALP Club members there as possible.

2004-06-07T15:18:00.000+10:00

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Celebrate the Republic this Queen's Birthday
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Young Labor Victoria will be hosting Nicola Roxon (Shadow Attorney General) this Thursday evening to talk about the prospects for an Australian Republic.

Thursday 10th June @ 7:30pm
Republika Bar, 132 Smith Street Collingwood
Guest Speaker: Nicola Roxon (Shadow Attorney-General)

It would be great to see any member of the ALP Club to come to this event.

Topics of conversation with Nicola Roxon include the Republic and any other issue covered by her brief as Shadow Attorney General, including her (and Mark Latham's) controversial stand on gay marriage.

For more information, contact Ben Barnett (bjbarnett@bigpond.com).

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Bizarro Farrago #2 Movie Night Fundraiser
-------------

That's right, after the runaway success of the first issue of Bizarro Farrago, a second issue is being prepared. But gems like Bizarro don't come for free; they don't even come cheap.

Which is why we need all of you to come to the Bizarro Farrago Movie Night Fundraiser

What: Film: 'Supersize Me' + beer + wine + hors dóuvres
When: Thursday June 17th @ 8:30pm
Where: Nova Cinema Foyer (380 Lygon St, Carlton)
Entry: $13.00
Why: Because Bizzaro Farrago needs you (and your pesos)!

Want to find out more about Bizzaro Farrago before clearing the 17th from your social caledndar? Then, check this out: their website .

2004-05-31T11:58:00.000+10:00

The new committee met last night, at a pleasant little Japanese restaurant on Lygon Street.

Amongst the revels, the various committee positions were divided up.
They are (in no particular order):

President - Josh Cusack
Treasurer / Fundraising - Jacky Bailey
Activities Officer - Georgia Poletti
Secretary / Membership - Caitlyn O'Dowd
Campaigns Officer - Adam Wieladek
Publications Officer - Alex White
Women's Officer - Jessie Giles

The new committee is in a unique position to lead the club at the time when Melbourne University is undergoing one of its most significant changes in over a decade. The creation of a new student union, the ongoing Education Campaign, and the upcoming Federal Election will all be central concerns for the new committee.

If any ALP Club member wants to contact any of the committee, just email the club's email address, and the committee member will get back to you.

We plan on having a general meeting not too far into the future (after exams), and there will likely be a bevy of events to start out Second Semester.