With the 2025 federal election less than a week away, we hope this edition inspires a desire for change, action, and hope in you. What we wanted to let you go with, in this 40-page labour of love, is the understanding that you do not need to be lost, or without hope, or in the dark about the things which are important to you, about the things which may influence the course of your life. We’ve tried our best to pack up all our knowledge, and have now passed it onto you.
In the feature, Imogen Sabey investigates the pattern of course cuts across NSW and the ACT brought on by the international student caps. The editorial team has put together several spreads comparing the policies of Labor, the Coalition, and the Greens, including the perspective of young representatives from the respective parties. We have included a brief explainer on how preferential voting works and why your vote cannot be wasted. Audhora Khalid has analysed the ‘neutrality’ of Australian politics. Emilie Garcia-Dolnik has conducted an interview with APAN about why Palestine is an issue of key importance at the ballot box.
More than anything, what we would like you to take away is that electoralism is not the beginning nor the end. Real change is not won in parliament nor in boardrooms, real change is won by the people. The core of what we need is genuine grassroots and democratic organising, at university, in our workplaces, and in our communities.
One of our editors had the great privilege to speak to Brian Aarons recently, one of the 1965 Freedom Riders, where Aarons reflected on his experiences in the Freedom Rides and the importance of truly grassroots organising principles in successful movements.
We must participate in electoral processes, to keep the Right out of government. A Coalition government would certainly mean that our lives will become far worse: it will herald a dramatic rise in far-right extremism and any modicum of progress in industrial relations, social services, and the cost of living crisis will be undone.
However, we cannot place all our hopes in Labor to do the right thing. They sure haven’t over the past three years. We can only hope that, if given the chance, they do better — be more militant, more staunch, more progressive — in the following years. That being said, we’re not holding our breath, because the ballot box is only one of the places we must hold them to account. We can vote to ensure left-wing policy cannot be ignored by the next Government. But beyond the ballot box, we must organise. What those in power fear the most is militant organised labour. We must dare to struggle, and dare to win.
Love & solidarity
Honi Soit
Artist Statement – Ellie Robertson
This Federal Election is vital to what is to come in Australia. Once again, it is a race of rich, old, white men for the position of Prime Minister. With the rapid rise of far-right extremism, it is crucial to keep the Liberals out of office. This does not mean voting Labor first. You have the beauty of preferential voting: an option to preference minor parties and independents.
What we are seeing from both major parties is the funding of the genocide in Palestine, a lack of consideration for women’s safety, the constant targeting and scapegoating of racial minorities, and outward attacks on LGBTQIA+ communities.
This is my first front cover. As you’ll find, it links up with the piece on page 32. In this piece, we have our three party leaders: Peter Dutton (Liberal), Anthony Albanese (Labor), and Adam Bandt (Greens). They are intertwined in loving embrace in a ‘Challengers’ style setting. I hope it takes you to a borderline unimaginable setting of smooching and ungodly touching that makes you gag.
