Since 2017, the last year in which there were adjudicator panels for Firsts Debating in the GPS Debating Competition, we have seen the debating quality drop down drastically.

From debates that were lost on a questionable basis, to quality teams who have been training for that season their entire time in high schools having their dreams at the Rutledge premiership squashed. Since 2017, there has been a remarkable increase in the number of reported 'robberies', wherein a school that had won a debate beyond a reasonable doubt (no legal reference intended :)) had have their win stolen by a bad adjudication or an unjust decision.

Team after team after team has lost unfairly and while it has been tolerated for quite a while, now is a good time to bring back these panels. But firstly, why are these panels so important?

1. Firstly, when there are more adjudicators there's more likely to be a just decision as they can confer with each other in case they have any confusions about key parts of a debate.
2. Secondly, bias that any adjudicator may have is less likely to come into play when they are involved in a decision process which is also moderated by at least two other individuals.

3. Finally, adjudicator panels have a lot more nuance in their decision as they have multiple people with a wider range of opinions and insights, and those nuances in understanding a debate could be the make or break between a right and just adjudication.

Although, us debaters understand that organising adjudicator panels for firsts and seconds is a challenge, we would at the very least want an adjudicating panel for Firsts debates in the GPS Competition.

Signing this petition will be the first step in ensuring a fairer, more enjoyable, GPS Debating Season for all.