1. We are community activists
We won’t just represent, we will help empower communities by working alongside others against WestConnex, for marriage equality, for sustainability and public housing and by fighting for a local council that is more democratic, transparent and accountable to the community. Socialist councillors in Victoria and West Australia were critical to defeating the East-West Link and Roe 8 motorway projects.
2. Organise to take on corporate greed
We are for a council that continues to seriously fight WestConnex, organises and resources the community campaigns to stop bus and rail privatisations and invest in public transport and more cycleways.
3. Housing is a council issue
We believe housing is a human right and councils should play a bigger role in addressing homelessness and housing affordability. In Melbourne, Socialist Alliance Moreland councillor Sue Bolton is working with residents of the Gronn Place public housing estate in Brunswick West to stop it being sold off to developers.
4. No forced amalgamations
We oppose the forced amalgamation of councils. Reverse the amalgamation, open all council meetings to the community, establish ward and precinct meetings.
5. No privatisation
We oppose any privatisation of council services and stand for a council that campaigns against the privatisation of Sydney Buses and the Metrorail privatisation-by-stealth.
6. Respect
We believe that being inclusive of First Nations peoples is the only way to begin to deal with ongoing systemic racism and intergenerational trauma. Socialist councillor Sam Wainwright persuaded Fremantle City Council to stop celebrating Invasion Day as “Australia Day” last year and other councils are now following this good example.
[Socialist Alliance is fielding candidates in Newcastle’s Ward One and in Sydney's Inner West council wards of Ashfield, Leichhardt and Stanmore on September 9. Visit the web page to find out more and to help out.]
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