Slogan: Amplify Angus
Colour: Cyan
Faction: NLS
Degree: Bachelor of Economics (Honours)
Quiz Score: 61%
Currently a member of SRC executive, Angus Fisher is this year’s National Labor Student (NLS) candidate for USU Board.
Fisher distilled his policy platform into three key points. First is a focus on student services, including more funding for FoodHub, providing free HIV/AIDS test kits, and further subsidies for businesses in the Wentworth Building to ensure lower prices. Second is reviving campus culture, through enlivening places like Courtyard Cafe with more student gigs and building more garden spaces. Third is bolstering student representation by holding student forums with key USU executives and board members, to ensure student voices are heard on topics like food and the “Someday Soon lineup.”
This matches what Angus claimed were the key issues with the USU. Angus believes the USU is currently “extremely corporatised.” This has created an organisation that, according to Angus, “feels very big and really insular.” Angus intends to get to a point where students “actually want to interact with the USU,” by “giving students the pathway to do that”: hence the USU forum idea.
When asked what experiences have prepared him for this role, Angus cited his tenure at the Debating Society and the, now defunct, DemSoc (Democratic Socialist Society) whilst also commenting on the livelihood of Pulp magazine.
Angus noted the political potential of the USU as an organisation with “some capital,” both in terms of “literal money”, but also the fact that “they can put on events and mobilise the student body.” Whilst noting that it may be difficult to make the USU “an entirely political, activist space,” he maintained its capacity to be a space for student organisation and representation.
However, Angus’ policy document was startlingly brief, at only 200 words. When asked about a general lack of detail provided, Angus claimed that there was “obviously more policy” that he intended to pursue that he had not included in the statement he provided to Honi.
Angus briefly mentioned SASH (sexual assault and sexual harrassment) policy and university lobbying as other areas of focus. In particular, Angus focused on the latter — a policy point eerily close to a rephrase of his existing platform of student representation. Angus then noted that “the policies I’ve put in my proposal can actually be actioned, unlike some other candidates.”
When asked what he believed were examples of bad policy, Angus made no specific accusations, but noted that holding events and parties “every single week” with “ridiculous amounts of free food and alcohol” were unsustainable. However, he did say that “free food is great” and noted that he would prioritise that over parties and free alcohol, which “have a diminishing return” and “a bunch of negative externalities.”
Angus did repeat NLS’ 2023 SRC election promises for a “rave in the graffiti tunnel” and “revive bubblers on campus” which appeared to be a not entirely tongue-in-cheek proposition. Regardless, Angus reiterated his commitment to reviving student culture and easing student access to amenities to alleviate the cost of living crisis.
In general, Angus was able to expand upon his proposed platforms and referenced his experience as both a tutor and student at the university as informing his ability to represent the university communities.
His quiz results were marginally higher than most other candidates given his experience with the SRC and union history however there was a noticeable gap in general USU literacy such as governance features.
Angus told Honi that he would be interested in taking on the Environment Portfolio, noting that he “obviously can’t take part in a number of the autonomous portfolios” however would advocate for no new fossil fuels, renewable energy investment and an anti-nuclear stance.
When asked about his motivations for running for the USU, Angus noted three reasons. First, Angus claimed that his “policy was good, so it ought to be policy that the USU has.” Second, Angus noted that he had experience representing the student body on the SRC, which gave him skills he could take to the USU to ensure students had their voices heard. Third, Angus mused that “maybe I just want to be on the board intrinsically because I think it would be a great experience.”