By Maurice Sibelle
BRISBANE — The state elections on September 19 recorded a 2.7% swing away from the major parties. When counting was completed, 7% of votes were for alternative candidates. Of 89 seats in the state parliament 25 were contested by progressive parties and independents.
The field included 10 candidates from the Indigenous Peoples Party, nine from the Greens, three from the Democrats, one from the Democratic Socialists and two independents.
Green Left spoke to Susan Price from the Democratic Socialists. "The election of Goss in 1989 did open the way for the left", explained Price. "We now have a situation where it is no longer good enough to say 'We have to get rid of the Nationals first'.
"Labor is being judged on their record, and their record isn't good enough. They have failed to deliver on the environment, abortion, land rights, electoral reform and gay and lesbian rights, just to mention a few."
There are claims by some conservation groups that Labor has delivered only 38% of its 1989 promises on the environment.
Abortion laws have not been repealed despite Labor Party policy specifically directing a Labor government to repeal them. Land rights legislation was rushed through parliament without consultation, without funds for land acquisition and with a sunset clause after which claims could not be made.
Electoral reform discriminated against minor parties by forcing them to register 500 names before they could compete on an equal footing with the major parties.
While the most draconian anti-homosexual laws were removed from the books, the law still doesn't grant full equality regardless of sexual preference.
"The political situation is opening up for the left in Queensland", she continued. "The potential is there to build on. Where we did best was where we didn't run against each other to split the progressive vote."
Commenting on the success of the Democratic Socialist campaign, she said, "We ran a campaign with a strong socialist message. We explained to people that being a green party is more than just trees. We explained the need for social justice and democracy. We took up the issues that Goss had failed on and developed the question of political power — the need for grassroots democracy. I think the message got through and people supported it. "We succeeded in getting our message across despite the shortest election campaign in history. I know other small parties had great difficulties putting together a team in such a short period. Without our names on the ballot paper, some voters would not have known who to vote for even if they supported our parties. We need a campaign against this undemocratic law."
The following are the results of the alternative candidates in the Queensland election.
Democratic Socialist
Susan Price, Brisbane Central 9.2%
Indigenous Peoples Party
Netta Tyson, South Brisbane 6.6%
Col Smith, Woodridge 3.3%
Norma James, Inala 9.2%
Darby McCarthy, Clayfield 2.7%
Ken Dalton, Ipswich 6%
Walter McCarthy, Toowoomba North 2%
Merv Gibson, Cook 2.9%
Jacob George, Mt Isa 2.1%
Lynette Van Issem, Woodridge 3.4%
Norman Jonson, Cook 1.4%
Greens
John Felan, Barron River 8.2%
George Wilson, Bulimba 13.6%
Jon Metcalfe, Cairns 8.7%
Lou Gugenberger, Chatsworth 7.4%
Anton Castro, Cook 1%
Brad Farmer, Currumbin 10.2%
Simon Bliss, Greenslopes 6%
Richard Nielsen, Kedron 5.9%
Peter George, Rockhampton 4.3%
Democrats
Andrew Bartlett, South Brisbane 4.9%
Kerri Kellett, Mt Coot-tha 8.1%
Colin Parker, Mundingburra 7%
Independent Green
Glenmary Swan, Keppel 6.7%
Hermann Schwabe, Nicklin 22.5%