"The Socialist Alliance welcomes the decision of Bryce Gaudry to stand as an independent for the seat of Newcastle in the NSW state election on March 24", alliance spokesperson Steve O'Brien said on January 31.
Socialist Alliance members respect Bryce as one of the better ALP politicians and one of the few who have been prepared to stand with the community in defence of its interests, in particular to save the electric rail line to Newcastle, O'Brien explained.
"Unlike the big end of town, many community and social justice activists applaud Bryce's decision", he added. "This was clearly shown by the hundreds of people who enthusiastically greeted him at the Save Our Rail-sponsored public meeting last December."
The local Socialist Alliance members "fully sympathise with the rank-and-file Labor Party members in Newcastle whose wishes to have Gaudry as their candidate were trampled on by Premier Morris Iemma and the ALP Sussex Street machine", O'Brien said. Last year, Labor's national executive dropped Bryce in favour of businessperson and former TV newsreader Jodi McKay. "That's one of the reasons why the Socialist Alliance was set up — to start the job of replacing ALP machine politics with democratic, working-class politics", O'Brien said.
"We will be encouraging the progressive candidates in the seat of Newcastle to work together to maximise the chance of one of them winning", O'Brien explained. "That will help create a voice in the NSW parliament that can support community principles, social justice and the environment of Newcastle, things that Iemma and the ALP's corporate mates sacrificed long ago."