SUSAN HARBEN is running for the ALP in the March 25 NSW state elections in the inner-Sydney seat of Bligh. The seat, currently held by independent Clover Moore, is regarded as the "pinkest" seat in Australia. Harben is ex-president of the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras, and a high profile lesbian community activist. Green Left Weekly's KATH GELBER caught up with Harben to ask her about her motivations for running.
Harben's preselection was announced in October 1994. In November she received a message of congratulations from the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras on her candidacy, which stated that that organisation "supports in principle the right of openly gay men and lesbians to seek election to public office".
The editorial in the January 1995 issue of the Sydney-based magazine Lesbians on the Loose went further, openly endorsing Harben's candidacy on "the courage of her lesbian convictions". But Harben claims to be running a broader campaign than on the basis of her lesbianism.
She told GLW, "I don't believe my sexual identity can be a substitute for sound policy, and I certainly don't think my sexual identity on its own indicates in any way at all progressiveness".
In terms of the issues, Harben states her opposition to privatisation of public services and assets, her support of the environment, her belief in a strong social welfare system, and her belief in the provision of publicly funded housing.
Yet she acknowledges that she is receiving criticism not only from the right, the "tory poofs and dykes" who perceive her campaign to be anathema to their own, largely business, interests, but also from the left. "The radicals are all saying, 'How dare she [run for the Labor Party], she'll sell out to the system'."
Harben is a relative newcomer to the ALP; she joined six months before winning preselection. After appearing on SBS's Face the Press, Harben got a call from Bob Carr asking whether she had "ever thought about a parliamentary career or going into parliament". He added he thought her performance on the interview "was as good as any minister I've ever seen".
Harben was interested. "I then had a talk to him because I am interested in politics and most of my own career has been around change and activism, access to justice, equity of access, and [the ALP] seems to me a logical place at the age of 42 to move to."
She says her preselection has resulted in loud allegations of ALP treachery, using her community profile to assist the party. "I actually don't believe that's true. I never even went to Sussex Street [ALP headquarters] prior to my preselection. I didn't meet John Della Bosca [NSW ALP general secretary] until weeks after the admin committee had actually made that decision."
What about the record of the ALP on issues such as East Timor, I asked, or cutting funding so universities are forced to look for other funding sources such as up-front fees?
"I agree that at the federal level there are those criticisms. If you are looking, you can find all sorts of examples of things that just don't fit with the things we would like to see [the ALP] doing. If you look at the state level, you could say the same thing."
While acknowledging that the ALP is "not a perfect party", Harben says that if people aren't willing to vote Labor, the Liberal-National coalition will win government.
She adds, "I take the practical view that we have a two party system and either one of those parties is going to hold government. I don't have any sense that the two party system is going to be got rid of in my lifetime."
Asked what possibilities she saw for some kind of alternative to the two-party system, she added, "There seems to be some notion that the big parties are bad and that smaller parties are where it's all at and they seem to take up more progressive issues". However, "as a woman and more recently in the last 10 years as a lesbian, I have always had to find a way to survive within existing structures and existing systems.
"As far as alternatives go, my energies haven't gone into even thinking through what a viable alternative should look like or what processes should be put in place for viable alternatives to be more powerful."
Harben says she believes "people outside the system are really crucial" to achieving progressive change. "That very radical voice is a crucial voice in terms of pushing boundaries. Often it's those people who are so extreme in demands or views or solutions that allow others to come in and suggest a solution that others more conservative can buy and live with." Harben cited Aboriginal activist Michael Mansell as an example.
"But you don't see yourself as one of them?", I asked.
"It's not the choice I've made."
The preferential voting system allows people to vote for an alternative to the left of Labor and then direct their preferences to avoid a Liberal-National victory.
The NSW Greens are standing in Bligh and directing their preferences to Clover Moore. When this was announced, Harben expressed "disappointment" that she had not first been consulted.
Harben has made it clear during her campaign that if she does not win, she would be happy if Moore retained the seat. But she is arguing for a primary vote for Labor.
Harben clarified her position by saying that "where the seat is safe and a clear message is to be sent", giving first preference to an alternative and second preference to Labor "is not a bad tactic".
Does this hold only in safe seats? "I think it's easier to do it in safe seats. Very few people understand how the [preferential voting] system works. We need to think in terms of the down side of giving a primary vote elsewhere."
If she were forced by caucus to back down on her principles, would she consider resigning from the ALP?
"That's an interesting question because it assumes it's going to happen.
"As a bottom line, yes. But I intend to fight within the system for change. I am concerned about the wording of 'backing down on principles' because I'm not going to win every fight. I am going to have to make decisions about coming back to fight another day."