Victorian Socialists

Victorian Socialists
Founded February 2018
Merger of Socialist Alliance
Socialist Alternative
Independents
Headquarters Victorian Trades Hall, Carlton
Membership Increase 1,300[1]
Ideology Socialism
Anti-capitalism
Political position Left-wing
Colours           Black and red
Slogan For people,
not the powerful
Legislative Assembly
0 / 88
Legislative Council
0 / 40
Local government
2 / 611
Website
victoriansocialists.org.au

The Victorian Socialists, commonly referred to as the Vic Socialists, are a socialist electoral alliance and political party based in Victoria, Australia. It was initially formed in February 2018 by a coalition of various socialist parties, organisations, community groups and trade unionists to contest the Northern Metropolitan Region seat of the Legislative Council at the 2018 Victorian state election. Seeking to "unite Victoria's left-wing" through a combination of activism and electoral work, Victorian Socialists have a specific focus on housing and public transport issues.[2] Its announced ticket comprises City of Yarra councillor Stephen Jolly, City of Moreland councillor Sue Bolton and asbestos lawyer Colleen Bolger.

In August 2018, the party announced that it would also be fielding candidates in every Victorian Legislative Council region, as well as several Victorian Legislative Assembly electorates.

History

The party's formation was announced publicly on the 5th of February and called for people to join the party in order to register with the Victorian Electoral Commission.[3] Within three days, on February 7, the party announced via its Facebook page that it had joined up 500 members; the minimum required to register as a party in Victoria.[4] It was also announced the day before that the Victorian Allied Health Professionals Association (VAHPA) also donated a total of $6,500 to the party, including $3,500 for t-shirts.[5]

On February 26, the party proposed that the 'outdated' Victorian state flag be replaced with the Eureka Flag.[6]

On April 20, the party announced via its Facebook page that it had begun the process of registering with the Victorian Electoral Commission.[7] It also announced that it had joined up a total of 800 members as of that time. The next day, the party announced that it would be forming branches in every lower house electorate within the Northern Metropolitan Region within the following week.

On May 2, it was announced that the Victorian Branch of the Electrical Trades Union donated $50,000 to the Victorian Socialists.[8]

As per the Electoral Act 2006, the party was officially registered by the Victorian Electoral Commission on 6 June 2018.[9]

In July 2018, the party launched its 'We are Not Sardines' campaign to promote its public transport policy. Featuring leafleting at several stations in the northern suburbs of Melbourne as well as sardine-themed stunts, it has outlined renationalised, reinvested, free and reliable public transport as its priorities. This was followed by the party's election manifesto launch on 24 August, which drew a full crowd in Brunswick Town Hall.

In June 2018, in an email to party members, the Victorian Socialists announced its intention to stand candidates in every upper house region in Victoria, though stating that it would be prioritising the Northern Metro campaign. In late August, former Geelong Trades Hall Secretary Tim Gooden was announced as the Victorian Socialists lead candidate for the Western Victoria region.[10]

Policies

Victorian Socialists launched its 2018 election manifesto on 24 August, outlining a broadly left-wing and socialist vision. It is based on broad principles of public ownership, workers' rights and equality. The party's policies include[11]:

Housing

  • Support for ongoing Victorian Government reforms, including limiting rent rises per year, limiting bond to 4 weeks' rent and abolition of no reason vacancy notices
  • Five-year freeze on rent increases
  • Subsequent rent increases to be indexed to the Consumer Price Index
  • 50,000 new public housing units over next five years
  • Mandating basic features for new dwellings such as minimum outdoor space and minimum floor space per bedroom

Public transport

  • Re-nationalisation of public transport providers
  • Free public transport
  • Train services every 5 minutes during peak times and every 10 minutes during off-peak times
  • Tram services every 2 minutes during peak times and every 6 minutes during off-peak times
  • Electrification of Craigieburn line to Wallan and extension of Mernda line to Whittlesea
  • Increasing staffing on stations

Jobs

  • Large-scale public investment
  • Cessation of subsidies to private companies
  • Creation of publicly-owned energy corporation
  • Creation of recycling plant in Whittlesea

Privatisation

  • Public ownership of: energy grid, public transport, aged care, childcare, hospitals, vocational training, public transport, disability services

Workers' rights

  • Implementation of wage theft and industrial manslaughter laws
  • Increase in sector-wide bargaining powers of trade unions
  • Protection of right to strike
  • Cessation of government contracts with "anti-worker" companies
  • Limit of shift length to no longer than 10 hours

Justice

  • Addressing crime through addressing root causes such as housing, education and employment
  • Halting construction of new prisons
  • Reversing changes to bail, parole and mandatory sentencing laws
  • Halting militarisation of Victoria Police
  • Establishment of interdependent body to investigate police misconduct

Other policies

  • Implementing inclusionary zoning, requiring 20% of new developments above four stories to include low-cost housing
  • Stopping public funding of private schools
  • Large-scale public investment in renewable energy
  • Drug liberalisation
  • Public investment into healthcare
  • Protecting heritage sites such as Federation Square from private development

Candidates

Legislative Council

Northern Metropolitan Region

Position Party Candidate
1 Independent Stephen Jolly
2 Socialist Alliance Sue Bolton
3 Socialist Alternative Colleen Bolger

Western Victoria Region

Position Party Candidate
1 Socialist Alliance Tim Gooden
2 Socialist Alliance Nada Iskra

Legislative Assembly

Geelong

Party Candidate
Socialist Alliance Sarah Hathway

Composition

Initially, the largest grouping within the Victorian Socialists was Socialist Alternative, which remains the larger of the two original component organisations - though no longer hold the outright majority. Socialist Alliance makes up the minority grouping.

A significant and growing majority, around two thirds, of the Victorian Socialists members are independent of either of the main component organisations — Socialist Alternative and Socialist Alliance.

Endorsements

A number of notable public figures have endorsed the party for the 2018 state election, including:

Notable members

See also

References

  1. ↑ ""The Immodest Victorian Socialists"". Jacobin. 9 August 2018.
  2. ↑ "Shattering the status quo: Could Victoria be about to elect its first socialist MP?". Green Left Weekly. 17 August 2018.
  3. ↑ "Heraldsun.com.au - Subscribe to the Herald Sun for exclusive stories". Herald Sun.
  4. ↑ "Victorian Socialists". Facebook. 7 February 2018.
  5. ↑ "Victorian Socialists". Facebook. 7 February 2018.
  6. ↑ "Heraldsun.com.au - Subscribe to the Herald Sun for exclusive stories". Herald Sun.
  7. ↑ "Victorian Socialists". Facebook. 20 April 2018.
  8. ↑ Carey, Adam (3 May 2018). "Socialists hope union donation will secure jolly good election result". The Age.
  9. ↑ "Registration of the Victorian Socialists". Victorian Electoral Commission. 6 June 2018.
  10. ↑ "Victorian Socialists - Western Victoria Region". Facebook. 25 August 2018.
  11. ↑ "Manifesto - Victorian Socialists". Victorian Socialists.
  12. ↑ http://tomballard.com.au/vote-for-the-victorian-socialists-please/
  13. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/vicsocialists/photos/a.1960540414019266/2390317624374874/?type=3&theater
  14. ↑ https://www.facebook.com/vicsocialists/photos/a.1960540414019266/2397988496941120/?type=3&theater
  15. ↑ "Victorian Socialists". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2018-10-11.
  16. ↑ "Victorian Socialists". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 2018-10-11.
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