With the Queensland ALP state government rumoured to announce an election date soon, the Socialist Alliance (SA) has selected two candidates to contest the poll.
In the inner urban seat of South Brisbane, standing against state Premier Anna Bligh, the SA candidate is Indigenous activist Sam Watson.
Watson is well known in Brisbane as one of the main community spokespersons following the death in police custody of Mulrunji Doomadgee on Palm Island in November 2004.
He is an activist of long standing who traces his engagement with Indigenous rights back to the campaigns of the early '70s. Watson is also the Socialist Alliance national spokesperson on Indigenous rights.
Mike Crook is the SA candidate for the northside seat of Sandgate. Crook has been active in many local community campaigns, especially the local Your Rights at Work committee which was very effective in the region against Howard's Work Choices.
A long-time member of the ALP, who had stood as a candidate for the party in the past, Crook resigned from the party at his local ALP branch meeting a week ago.
The Greens will also be looking to consolidate on their recent break into the parliamentary sphere in these elections. Until Roman Lee defected from the ALP to the Greens in October last year, the Greens had no representation in Queensland either at the state, federal or local level.
The Socialist Alliance is not as yet a registered political party in Queensland as the state's electoral registration laws are some of the most undemocratic in Australia.
However, the Socialist Alliance will be running an open campaign that seeks to engage its membership and support base in the development of its platform. A wide consultation process will be a key part its electoral campaign.
SA is seeking suggestions to be included in its platform as a means to encourage a broader discussion about what sort of politics we need.
You can find out more about the campaign, volunteer your time, join the alliance or contribute to its election platform by visiting <http://www.socialist-alliance.org/queensland>.