Enthusiastic response to Socialist Alliance proposal

BY PETER BOYLE

The Democratic Socialist Party's appeal for a socialist electoral
alliance to stand common candidates in the next federal elections has met
with an enthusiastic response from the activist left.

So far the International Socialist Organisation, the Freedom Socialist
Party, Socialist Democracy, Workers Liberty and the Victorian Progressive
Labour Party have indicated their interest in discussing the formation
of a Socialist Alliance. Socialist Alternative and the Socialist Party
(formerly Militant) are considering their response at meetings over the
next few days. Other left parties invited, including the Communist Party
of Australia and the Progressive Labour Party of NSW have yet to respond.

An initial meeting on February 1 between representatives of the two
biggest socialist parties, the DSP and the ISO, revealed considerable agreement
about the possible platform, structure and formation process of a Socialist
Alliance. These two parties also recognised that because of their combined
weight in the organised left, a cooperative and collaborative approach
on their part was essential if an alliance was to be effective.

If the rough consensus reached at this meeting is ratified by the leaderships
of these two groups, then a meeting of all interested left organisations
will be called to discuss forming the alliance. If there is sufficient
agreement in the left, large public meetings in the major cities soon could
launch the Socialist Alliance. Contact the DSP at dsp@dsp.org.au
or visit  http://www.dsp.org.au.

From GLW issue 435