Socialist Alliance (SA) will run in all four of Djilang/Geelong’s lower house seats in the Victorian elections on November 28.
Sarah Hathway, the lead candidate preselected for Lara, told Green Left she is keen to promote positive polices opposed to the racist pro-war major parties.
“We are sick of seeing migrants blamed for the spiraling cost-of-living rises and soaring house prices. The reality is that big business and weapons’ corporations are booming because the government is helping them out. The vulnerable communities, including First Nations people, queers and those on welfare, are being left to fend for themselves.”
Hathway said SA will be campaigning for public sector jobs and catering for peoples’ needs and the environment ahead of profits.
SA has broad authority among many communities for its respectful and diligent work with others.
Djilang, Victoria’s second largest city with almost 300,000 people, has traditionally been an industrial centre. But many big industries, like Ford and Alcoa, closed down decades ago.
This has led to more than 20 years of slow decline and explains why some suburbs have the highest levels of unemployment and disadvantage in the state. It is also why 15.6% of children in the region live in poverty.
“These massive problems could have been avoided with a different approach to job creation and industry planning,” Hathway said.
“Even if the private car manufacturers are looking to pay cheaper wages elsewhere, the plants could have been repurposed for essentials – such as to assist in climate change transition or creating materials for public housing
“We don’t agree with the arguments from federal, state and local politicians who say all the good things will come from the city housing a rapidly growing defence industry hub, including at the Avalon Airport.”
She said a new plant to manufacture howitzers, which defence minister Richard Marles boasts will create more than 2000 jobs, “simply embeds the country more deeply into AUKUS — which, ultimately, is a plan for war against China”.
Hathway said very few of the most disadvantaged people will ever get these new industry jobs. “SA will be campaigning for well paid, long-term jobs in industries that will benefit people’s everyday lives — such as better health facilities.
Hathway, a community mental health services social worker, was a City of Greater Geelong councillor for 18 months. She helped to push public housing back on the council agenda, revitalise public spaces and pushed for council to oppose the genocide in Gaza.
Also pre-selected for the seat of Geelong is Brenden Grull, a father and pro-union painter and decorator. He has been active in campaigns to defend community services, the environment and public housing.
Freya Hedley, a trans woman working in tech support and hospitality, will run for South Barwon. Hedley volunteers at a homeless service, is very active in campaigns for LGBTQ rights and the pro-Palestine campaign.
Dom Williams, a student at Deakin University, has been pre-selected for Bellarine. Williams, a keen environmental activist, helped organise School Strikes 4 Climate when he attended high school. He is a student at Deakin University and is active in campaigns for public education, against racism and for disability rights.