Socialist preferences to Greens in WA

PERTH -- The large number of third party and independent candidates in the WA elections has given an increased importance to the question of preferences.

The Democratic Socialists, who are running in the seats of Perth and 10 in Fremantle, which have, respectively, eight and 10 candidates. In a break with their usual past practice, the socialists have put Democrats below Labor in their preferences.

Geoff Spencer, the candidate in Fremantle, explained that the overall aim is “to encourage candidates who represent a break to the left of the ALP. Hence we direct our preferences to the Greens WA. Apart from their policies, the Greens are organising beyond purely electoral politics.”

Of the independent candidates, only Clarrie Isaacs in Fremantle and Kath Mallott in Perth are to the left of the ALP, Spencer said. They follow the Greens in the socialists' preferences.

Spencer rejected the argument that it was worthwhile voting for right-wing independents in order to “keep the major parties honest”. Election of a right-wing independent would not be a step forward.

“Labor and the Liberals offer working people nothing but further attacks on living conditions”, Spencer said. Because the Liberals are pursuing these attacks at a more rapid pace, the Democratic Socialists put Labor ahead of the Liberals and right-wing independents as a lesser evil.

As for the Democrats, “They have always been a fairly right-wing branch in WA”, Spencer explained, “and this election campaign only enhances that image.

“For example, they recommend that Liberal be put before Labor and in many seats before the Greens. There has been very little that is progressive in their policy statements -- for example favouring the Eastern Bypass in Fremantle.” Therefore the Democrats were put after Labor in the socialists' preferences.

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