Socialist voices in the Victorian election

October 5, 2006
Issue 

The Socialist Alliance is campaigning for the defeat of the Howard government in the next federal election and against the Liberal opposition in the November 25 Victorian state election. However, we have little confidence that the election of Labor governments in Victoria or federally will result in improvements in working people’s conditions of life.The Socialist Alliance is campaigning for the defeat of the Howard government in the next federal election and against the Liberal opposition in the November 25 Victorian state election. However, we have little confidence that the election of Labor governments in Victoria or federally will result in improvements in working people's conditions of life.

Victorian Premier Steve Bracks has been Howard's accomplice in realising his reactionary agenda. The state ALP government has done little to help workers resist Howard's Work Choices and Bracks has given Howard the means to make his police-state "anti-terror" laws work in Victoria.

Sustained political pressure from below, expressed in independent union and community mass mobilisation and protest, will be necessary just to keep the ALP to its minimal promises of progressive action. However, to seriously challenge the pro-corporate agenda of both major parties, working people need to build a party of our own — a party that fights consistently for our interests, that puts people's needs before big-business profits.

The Socialist Alliance aims to help build such a party and has as its core objective to promote left unity and regroupment. By always helping to organise the most united left campaigning possible in Australian politics, progress can be made towards building the political force that Australia's workers, poor and oppressed urgently need.

Socialist Alliance seeks to collaborate wherever possible with other socialist and progressive activists in every arena of political activity. In election campaigns, we advocate and work for maximum unity of left and progressive candidates. That includes building joint campaign activities and calling for a vote for all socialist and left candidates, whether in other socialist organisations or standing as independents.

Socialist Alliance welcomes the opportunities for people in Victoria to support socialist candidates in the November 25 state election and is advocating a vote 1 for:

Margarita Windisch (Socialist Alliance) in Footscray

Margarita has lived in Melbourne's western suburbs for six years. She has taken a strong public stand against police violence and racism in Footscray. A founder of Melbourne's Stop the War Coalition, she was an organiser of rallies against Israel's war on Lebanon and Palestine. A social worker, Margarita has experience in the areas of disability, women's health and housing.

Vannessa Hearman (Socialist Alliance) in Brunswick

Vannessa has lived in Coburg for 10 years. She is a part-time worker and a student. Migrating to Australia 22 years ago from Indonesia, she is concerned about issues of war and racism, and the demonisation of the Arab and Muslim communities. Being a committed public transport user, she wants to see a big improvement in the quality and affordability of these services.

Sue Bull (Socialist Alliance) Western district — upper house

Sue is a teacher who has lived in Geelong for six years. She is a committed trade unionist and anti-war activist. For many years Sue has been concerned about the attacks on public education and the undermining of the state school system. Privatisation of resources throughout regional and rural areas is also a major issue for her.

Jorge Jorquera (independent) in Derrimut

Jorge arrived in Australia with his family in the 1970s, escaping Chile's brutal Pinochet dictatorship. He lives in the western suburbs with his partner and two sons. Jorge currently works at St Albans TAFE and in community development and justice. He is a long-term socialist who has been involved in many community and solidarity campaigns.

Stephen Jolly (Socialist Party) in Richmond

Stephen, a resident of Clifton Hill, is a councillor in the Langridge ward of Yarra. He is employed as a construction worker and is a shop steward for the CFMEU. He has two children and is a long-term community actvist.

Andrew Calleja (Socialist Party) in northern metropolitan region — upper house

Andrew, a full-time student, has been employed as a residential youth worker in the northern suburbs. He has recently been involved in campaigns to stop the introduction of "voluntary student unionism" and the new industrial relations laws.

[Abridged from a statement by the Socialist Alliance. Visit <><http://www.socialist-alliance.org>.]

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