Link to this page: http://www.socialistparty.org.uk/issue/373/6109
From The Socialist newspaper, 4 December 2004
Australia: Socialist Party councillor elected
SOCIALIST PARTY member Stephen Jolly has won a seat in Langridge Ward in the Yarra City Council elections in Melbourne, Australia. This is the first electoral victory for the socialist movement in Australia for many years.
Socialist Party members, Melbourne
Eleven candidates stood for the seat. Stephen got the third highest first preference vote.
The Socialist Party left-wing team took up the basic concerns of the local community. We successfully presented ourselves as the left opposition to the joint Australian Labour Party (ALP)/Green-run Council.
On core economic issues the council has undertaken a neo-liberal agenda, with asset management and debt reduction the major priority. The big issue is the on-going financial bleeding of councils by State and Federal government. We said it was wrong for the council not to campaign with other councils, trade unions, and the community to change this.
The other reason we won this seat was as a result of a decade of hard work in the area. A significant number of local people knew of our work saving Richmond Secondary College, on the urban environment, on heroin reform, for casual workers' rights etc and trusted us enough to vote socialist.
For a full report see: www.socialistworld.net
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In The Socialist 4 December 2004:
Private hands off public services
Pre-budget statement: Workers will pay for economic failure
NHS not safe in Labour's hands
Blair's election strategy threatens democratic rights
Fighting fund Christmas appeal
International socialist news and analysis
Ukraine: Neither Yanukovych or Yuschenko
Socialist Party councillor elected in Australia
Committee for a Workers' International: Building the forces of socialism worldwide
Socialist Party workplace news
UNISON general secretary election: A fighting programme to defend pensions
Save the Jag! Renationalise Jaguar to save jobs
Brighton teaching assistants fight council attacks
DWP needs more experienced staff, not less
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