SRC Presidential Candidate Profile: Matthew Carter
Degree: Music (Performance), IV
Faction: Student Unity (Labor Right)
Matthew Carter champions a pragmatic student-focused approach that promises to improve post-pandemic learning conditions, defend student welfare and fight USyd’s austerity measures. Hailing from the Conservatorium, Carter is supported by Unity, Phoenix, the Liberal-aligned Strive and Wave, and the Conservatorium’s fresh Ignite brand. If elected, Carter will defer his degree and commit full-time to the SRC Presidency, a position rewarded by a $42,000 stipend.
Carter’s self-described “left-wing” campaign is shaped by his Blue Mountains-working-class-background and lived experience of economic struggle. His platform is consequently predicated on an earnest desire to improve the lives of students having a “hard time” getting through their tertiary education.
Yet Carter’s support from the campus right somewhat undermines his left-wing image. In his policy statement, Carter pledges to fight the Federal Liberal Government and “cancel” the Job-ready Graduates Package. When asked how he reconciles Liberal backing with his left-wing platform, Carter was non-committal. “Anyone who chooses to support me does so because of my policies. They see a stronger vision that will put students first.” In the Honi Soit debate, Carter disavowed the State and Federal Liberal Government. He also claimed that he had made no deals with other factions but did not rule out the possibility of electing a Liberal candidate to an executive SRC position.
Understandably, Carter also condemned fellow Unity members’ crackdown on student activists at UTS and Monash, as well as ex-Unity members’ defunding of La Trobe’s student union. At the time, however, Carter dissented to a Council motion condemning those actions at UTS. In the debate, Carter asked people to judge him on “his work” rather than the “work of other people.”
Irrespective of his factional affiliations, Carter boasts an impressive track record of student advocacy. He is a current SRC Councillor, Intercampus Officer and Treasurer of the Conservatorium Student’s Association. He also claims credit for defeating proposed cuts to the Conservatorium’s Jazz course and has firsthand experience lobbying University management.
While Carter’s demeanour throughout campaigning has remained unwaveringly conciliatory, he did voice criticism of Grassroots’ factional cohesion in the wake of serious accusations of sexism. In the debate, Carter said he believes Grassroots “don’t quite understand where they’re at leadership-wise or vision-wise.”
When asked what compelled him to run following two years of Grassroots Presidency, Carter vaguely cited a desire to “bring students closer to the centre of what [he’s] trying to achieve”.
In the context of his campaign, this approach seems to prioritise localised issues facing students over activism in the broader political landscape. Carter backed this up by describing one of his leading policies: to establish Placement Report Cards for students undertaking external placements in courses like nursing, education and medicine. The initiative would ostensibly facilitate broad reviews of placement environments to protect students from mistreatment.
While acknowledging the achievements of past Councils, Carter believes the SRC needs to address problems “before they become crises”. Carter referred to issues with Special Considerations and student support in the pandemic as examples of the SRC being “one step behind”. Although it is unclear exactly how Carter would hope to adopt it, he identified a “proactive leadership” style as the main way he would differentiate his Presidency to that of Swapnik Sanagavarapu’s.
Carter concedes that the continuity of consecutive Grassroots Presidencies gives Lancaster an advantage but believes a change to the status quo could prove beneficial. Although Carter possesses activist experience, this pales in comparison to that of Lancaster, who has built her campaign on her extensive involvement in student activism.
Despite any question marks surrounding campus politics, Carter exudes competence, institutional knowledge and a genuine desire to work for students: his promise to defer study to take on the Presidency full time is testament to that alone.