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.