Forum on which way for the left

By Chris Spindler

SYDNEY — A meeting of almost 100 people here on March 16 debated the question, "Where to for the ALP — which way for the left?".

All speakers and contributions from the floor agreed that there needed to be a united opposition to the Liberal-National agenda of massive cutbacks and attacks on unions.

Those speaking on the panel were: Wendy Bacon from the No Aircraft Noise Party; Dave Wright, Democratic Socialist Party; Ian Rintoul, International Socialist Organisation; Dean Smith, Socialist Alternative; and Anthony Albanese, ALP.

All speakers except Albanese were scathing in their criticism of the Labor Party in government. Bacon said that the ALP has been moving to the right throughout her life and that it was the ALP she has been fighting against.

Wright and other speakers pointed to Labor's undermining of wages and the ability of the labour movement to fight back during the 13 years of the Accord and enterprise bargaining.

Although Albanese recognised that there was "disillusionment and disenchantment" with the ALP, he maintained that he would stay in the party.

There were clear differences between those advocating the building of an alternative to the two party system and those who maintain that leftists have to reform Labor from within. Some Labor Party members walked out when Sylvia Hale from the No Aircraft Noise Party attempted to speak.

From GLW issue 224