BY EDWARD JOHNSTONE
MELBOURNE — The Socialist Alliance is fielding candidates in four wards in the Darebin City Council election in Melbourne's north-east. The alliance's platform demands that Darebin City be made a haven for refugees, that Merri Creek be saved from freeway extensions, that the privatisation of public transport be reversed and that residents, not developers, control development in the city.
Socialist Alliance candidate for Rucker ward is Patrick Mcliesh, an active socialist for more than 20 years. Mcliesh has been involved in local campaigns. He is a workplace delegate for the Community and Public Sector Union.
Socialist Alliance candidate for Barunah ward is Graham Matthews, a 36 year-old former council worker. Matthews has campaigned to free the refugees, for the rights of East Timorese people and against war and racism. He is also a member of the Democratic Socialist Party.
Natalie Zirngast is the Socialist Alliance candidate for James ward. Zirngast is a feminist activist involved in the International Women's Day collective. Zirngast campaigned against the Jabiluka uranium mine in Darwin. She also fought mandatory sentencing. Zirngast is an active member of the National Tertiary Education Union and a member of the Democratic Socialist Party.
Fouli Cristman is the Socialist Alliance candidate for Cazaley ward. Cristman is an active member of the CPSU who is deeply concerned about the provision of resources to the poorest residents of Darebin. She is also a long-term resident of Preston.
Socialist Alliance will direct preferences first to the Greens, then to the Darebin Appropriate Development Association, which was formed as a grassroots campaign against developer-driven construction in Darebin, and then to Labor. In the Rucker ward, the Westgarth Action Group's candidate will receive Socialist Alliance's third preferences before Labor.
"With no (official) conservatives running for Darebin it was a matter of preferencing activists before the Laborites", Matthews said. "We want to see council accountable to the interests of the community, and not to developers."
The Darebin council election will be by postal ballot ending March 15. The Socialist Alliance will be letterboxing the four wards in which it is fielding candidates, and help from supporters is requested.
To get involved in the Socialist Alliance campaign contact Jackie on 9486 5472 or email <batman@socialist-alliance.org>.
From Green Left Weekly, February 20, 2002.
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