By Sophie Blewitt
A member of the ANU Law Students’ Society (LSS) committee has apologised for issuing his friends reserved access to tickets to the 2025 Norton Rose Fulbright Law Ball.
Vice-President of Events Angus Murray allegedly sent a “committee password” for Law Ball tickets to friends ahead of the official release, as he admitted in a statement to the LSS Committee Meeting on Sunday, 27 July. Though the LSS Committee has not confirmed the exact number of tickets involved, an anonymous LSS member told Observer that a full table was allegedly reserved, indicating up to 10 tickets may have been improperly purchased.
Tickets were in high demand, selling out with “unprecedented” speed for a price of $150 per member ticket, according to a post made on the event’s Facebook page. The ball, taking place on 7 August in the Great Hall of Parliament House, is sponsored by British-American law firm Norton Rose Fulbright for the second consecutive year.
In a statement to Observer, Murray reaffirmed his apology to “those who have generously purchased tickets to the event, and especially to those who missed out on tickets”.
“I unilaterally and naively abused the power which was vested in me by the votes of my peers, and it was those same peers who were disadvantaged for it. I acted on my own, I acted with entitlement and stupidity, and I am wholly and singularly responsible. I am so sorry to everyone for this.”
On 18 June, the LSS announced a third, limited “ticket drop” scheduled for 24 June, releasing tickets that had initially been improperly made available to Murray’s friends. In a statement to Observer on behalf of the LSS Committee, President Alex Bako described “several steps” taken in response to this incident, including the third “ticket drop” and drafting a Committee Code of Conduct to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Bako also confirmed that Murray will not be stood down from his position as Vice-President (Events) as “the LSS is unwilling to undermine the democratic choice of our members unless there are no other reasonable ways to resolve the issue… we believe that the steps taken by the Executive effectively respond to the committee ticketing incident”.
Reflecting on these actions, Murray described his actions as “a betrayal of what the ANULSS stands for, and its principles of integrity, fairness, and justice”.
“I am glad the ANULSS is taking steps to ensure such mistakes not only won’t, but can’t happen again.”
More information concerning the drafted LSS Committee Code of Conduct is to come.
If students have any outstanding concerns, they are encouraged to reach out to the LSS Committee at lss@anu.edu.au or via social media.
Graphics by Shé Chani
ANU Observer 