MELBOURNE — The Gellibrand Socialist Alliance branch decided on February 5 to contest the March 15 Maribyrnong and Brimbank council elections. The Socialist Alliance promises a “working council for working people”.

The alliance will campaign in the elections to stop Australian participation in the war on Iraq, to close the Maribyrnong detention centre and the toxic Coode Island facility, demand the decriminalisation of illicit drugs and the introduction of safe injecting rooms, end industrial transport through residential areas, save local pools and to establish housing for disadvantaged residents.

Justine Kamprad is the alliance candidate for the Maribyrnong Saltwater Ward (which covers Footscray CBD) and Lincoln Hancock is running for Maribyrnong Sheoak Ward (Yarraville). Maurice Sibelle will contest Brimbank council's McKay Ward (Sunshine).

The candidates told Green Left Weekly that the anti-war campaign is not just a “federal issue”. Sibelle, who has two pre-school children, pointed out that the federal government “has cut hundreds of millions of dollars from child-care support, while increasing the defence budget by billions. Local councils need to campaign against the war drive if they really want to represent the interests of local people.”

Kamprad welcomed the recent vote by the Maribyrnong council to become an “anti-war zone”, but “to be a real anti-war council, the council must campaign against the war, not just pass motions”. Kamprad stressed that “activists rather than career politicians need to be elected to local councils” to ensure that “resources are devoted to encourage and promote local anti-war groups and activities”.

If elected, Socialist Alliance councillors would organise community marches and festivals in opposition to the war, Kamprad said. They would also oppose anti-democratic “anti-terrorism” laws and the racist profiling of Islamic communities.

Hancock added that the alliance would work to repeal draconian anti-litter laws enforced by the Maribyrnong council, which outlaw the pasting up of political posters and impose big fines on organisations whose details appear on them.

Socialist Alliance will meet every Thursday night during the election campaigns. Phone 9687 7609 or 0422 720 216.

From Green Left Weekly, February 12, 2003.
Visit the Green Left Weekly home page.

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