Socialists and the Northcote by-election
By Maurice Sibelle
MELBOURNE — The Northcote state by-election on August 15 was the first electoral test for One Nation outside Queensland. They were resoundingly defeated, scoring only 5.7%, despite getting the most media coverage and being top of the ballot paper. The donkey vote is usually at least 1%.
At the close of nominations on July 31, One Nation candidate Nikolas Kavalenka was interviewed by the media for more than half an hour. The evening television news, radio bulletins and newspapers gave One Nation blanket coverage. Candidates from the Greens, Democrats, Democratic Socialists and Progressive Labour Party (PLP), also on hand the close of nominations, were ignored. The Democrat candidate was mentioned.
While the three left candidates polled a total of 7.5% of the vote — the Greens won 3.9%, the Progressive Labour Party 1.9% and the Democratic Socialists 1.7% — the mass media reported the election as if there were only three candidates: One Nation, the Australian Democrats and the ALP.
Kennett's Liberal Party refused to field a candidate but Kennett mailed every voter in the electorate a letter calling for a vote for Democrat candidate Ken Saunders. The letter would have cost some $30,000. Saunders won 26.5% of the vote, compared to Liberals' 23% at the last election.
While the Democrats gained much of the traditional Liberal vote, they also picked up some anti-racism votes. Saunders is a local Aboriginal leader and was a member of the Indigenous Working Group on Native Title.
The Democrats threw a lot of resources into the campaign. Huge glossy posters covered the electorate. A glossy leaflet, a flashy office on the main street of Northcote and a slick media machine accompanied Saunders throughout the campaign.
The Democrats' campaign, however, was devoid of politics and relied on the personal stature of the candidate. Saunders was also able to get Archie Roach and other big name Aboriginal artists to do a benefit concert for his campaign.
Labor increased its vote by just 1% to 59.9%. Mary Delahunty, a high-profile journalist, was parachuted into the seat by the ALP leader John Brumby's right-wing faction. There were many unhappy Labor left faction members. The seat was previously occupied by a socialist left faction leader, Tony Sheenan.
The Greens hardly ran a campaign, relying on their name to get drum up a respectable vote. On the few occasions they made statements, the Greens identified with "left-wing" policies.
The main contest for the conscious socialist vote was between the Progressive Labour Party, whose candidate was Denis Evans, chairperson of the Community Radio Station 3CR, and myself, candidate for the Democratic Socialists. The PLP won just 62 more votes than the Democratic Socialists.
The PLP ran a campaign focusing on Evans as the only "local" candidate. While the campaign appealed to ALP members who resented the imposition of Delahunty, it failed to address broader issues. The PLP campaigned to win votes, rather than clearly explaining what it stands for and how it intends to achieve its goals.
The Democratic Socialists were pleased with the result because we ran a clear campaign explaining the need to build an effective opposition to Howard, Kennett and the Labor Party.
We explained that Hanson's One Nation was the product of the economic rationalist policies of the major parties and that a campaign for a socialist alternative is needed. We were careful not to foster the illusion that, if people voted for the Democratic Socialists, we would do it for them. The Democratic Socialist campaign mobilised Hundreds of people in community rallies against racism.
If the 500 people who voted Democratic Socialist understood that the solution to their problems does not lie in parliament, but in their active involvement in the campaigns to defend their rights, then our campaign was very successful.
In contrast, the International Socialist Organisation refused to stand in the election or support socialist candidates. It directed its members and supporters to "put One Nation last" and called for a vote for Labor, returning people to the two-party con game.