On April 14, the Victorian Socialist Alliance held its state conference, which unanimously voted to make the federal election a key area of campaigning for the coming year. The alliance will hold further meetings to preselect candidates and determine the shape of the election campaign.
Keynote speaker and prominent civil rights lawyer Rob Stary highlighted the need to continue mobilising public opposition and resistance to the attacks on civil liberties and encouraged alliance members to continue their work in this area. The conference passed a motion to make the campaign to free the "Melbourne 13" a priority for 2007.
A delegate from the striking Preston Motors workers gave greetings to the conference, the day after the workers had won their dispute. A collection was taken for Union Solidarity, which played a critical role in the campaign. Greens MLC Colleen Hartland also passed on greetings.
One highlight of the conference was an environment panel with guest speakers Matthew Wright from the Beyond Zero Emissions group and Dave Sweeney from the Australian Conservation Foundation, along with Ben Courtice and Chris Johnston from the Socialist Alliance. The discussion was a real interchange of ideas and solutions, and two motions were passed to promote the forging of closer links with the radical sections of the environment movement and for the development of an action plan.
The conference also voted to develop an eco-socialist statement in collaboration with like-minded activists and to try to be part of building a World Environment Day rally focusing on renewable energy in opposition to uranium and coal mining and nuclear power. The conference voted to recommend to the national executive that the alliance after its greenhouse gas policy to call for zero emissions. The conference elected a new state convener and state executive.