Queensland Socialist Alliance (SA) Queensland, buoyed by a successful federal election campaign is registering the party for state elections. SA is already registered federally.
Jonathan Strauss, the party’s Queensland organiser and a former Senate candidate, told Green Left that its state conference on June 8 decided there were opportunities for growth and “the moment must be seized”.
The Queensland Electoral Commission’s undemocratic electoral laws require political parties prove they have at least 500 members to register. SA has more than 400 members, with more than 100 having joined over the last year.
SA is asking members to confirm their membership details and for others to join.
“During the federal election campaign, members and volunteers helped take progressive ideas and action across much of the state,” Strauss said. “Members are involved in many important campaigns and we hosted public housing forums in Woodridge and Cairns. We also received much-appreciated endorsements from Justice for Palestine Magan-djin and Muslim Votes Matters.”
SA’s Queensland Senate vote doubled from 2022 to more than 20,000. It was highest in the Magan-djin’s working-class southern suburbs and in regional Queensland.
In the lower house seat of Rankin, SA polled nearly 2%, a good result given it was running in the Logan area for the same time.
“Now we are looking to involve more people in socialist politics and campaigns where reforms are desperately needed,” Strauss said. “We also provide education in socialist ideas; offer militant, activist leadership in communities, movements and unions; and are keen to help set up new SA branches, especially in regional centres.”
SA has branches in Magan-djin and Gimuy/Cairns, and has members organising on the Gold Coast, Townsville, Toowoomba and Bundaberg.
“Queensland needs a socialist party that does it best to build social and ecological struggles within a framework of pushing for social transformation. If you support that, join Socialist Alliance,” Strauss said.
[Support Socialist Alliance become registered by filling in this form and sending it to brisbane@socialist-alliance.org.au]