BY MELANIE SJOBERG

SYDNEY — The NSW state conference of the Socialist Alliance, held on November 8, brought together more that 110 members and to share ideas for election possibilities, exchange experiences about branch building and consider future campaigns.

A diverse range of workshops offered political education around struggles for women's liberation, history of red unions and Latin America, as well as practical aspects such as how to start a new branch and socialist experiences in election campaigns.

The conference opened with addresses by radical historian Humphrey McQueen, who outlined themes for a book on socialism, and former alliance national co-convenor Dick Nichols, who provided inspirational descriptions of the Venezuelan revolution.

State coordinator Paul Benedek reported on the expansion of the Socialist Alliance in NSW which, with the formation of a new branch in Taree, now has 15 branches throughout the state.

“The growing number of branches and interest in socialist ideas shows that we should be extremely ambitious when we are planning the next election”, said Benedek.

The conference concluded with the election of two candidates for the NSW Senate team in next year's federal election: Kylie Moon, former national coordinator of the socialist youth organisation Resistance and a convenor of Books Not Bombs, the group that led large high school anti-war protests earlier this year; and John Morris, a high school teacher and activist in the Marrickville Peace Group.

From Green Left Weekly, November 19, 2003.
Visit the Green Left Weekly home page.

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