Socialist Alliance
Apr. 30th, 2022 12:22 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
b_auspolSocialist Alliance
Website: https://socialist-alliance.org/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/socialistallnce
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SocialistAlliance
(My review for the 2021 WA Election)
Socialist Alliance are one of only two socialist parties who made it through the 1,500 members culls (the other being the Victorian Socialists). The party was founded in 2001 and have been contesting election at all levels of government, and have only been successful at local government level. Nevertheless, they do have some practical government experience.
Socialist Alliance want a democratic socialist society in Australia. They want communities, trade unions and social movements to come together to create a better collective good. Radical democracy for all!
Party Analysis
Socialist Alliance, as is traditional, have approximately eleventy one policies on their website, many of them deeply earnest and longwinded.
Their taxation policy is pretty straightforward. No Stage 3 tax cuts, tax the rich more, introduce a wealth tax for the super rich, more large company taxes, remove negative gearing from investment properties. Basically, tax the wealthy, block the loopholes, use the money for a better socialist good. Also scrap the Medicare levy and pay for healthcare out of the ordinary tax pool rather than claiming it comes from a separate levy.
Public ownership of property! Time to nationalise everything, folks! Government to seize ownership of: mines, banks, and energy companies. Put them under community and worker control. Stop any further privatisation of public assets. And we need to form WORKER COOPERATIVES. The spirit of Marxism lives on.
Socialist Alliance demand Real Climate Action. 100% renewables within 5-10 years, but no specific date put on net-zero. Phase out all fossil fuels and their subsidies. Take control of the energy companies. More reforestation, end old growth logging, more remediation of mines. No nuclear power. It’s a bit of a grab bag but generally “transition power” and “replant things”.
The list of demands for parliamentary changes is interesting. They want a Federal ICAC (of course) and to prevent former ministers lobbying for their portfolios or on boards (also a big policy the social left are into), and then we get more serious. Religion out of politics. Politicians paid an average worker’s wage (I don’t think this is a good idea, but I also assume in Socialist Utopia there are a lot more social services). Proportional representation at all levels of government! (time to change the voting system). Public funding for all electoral candidates (as I’ve said before, this is a lovely idea but I also don’t support funding the hobbyists), a new constitutional convention for reform, and HTVs displayed at all polling booths. Oh and voting age dropped to 16.
First Nations policies include no specific call of whether to follow Uluru Statement from the Heart. They do want treaties and “First Nation control of First Nations’ affairs” but no specifics on a Voice or not. Lots of support for communities, more community control, stop child separation, repeal Intervention laws and cashless welfare cards. Implement the Deaths in Custody recommendations and the whole of Close the Gap (yes, yes, fuck yes).
More rights for asylum seekers and migrants. Obviously end all detention, honour refugee UN commitments, and dismantle Border Force. Abolish Temporary Protection Visas and provide permanent stability for refugees. Increase the number of refugees, more family reunion visas, prepare and act on climate refugees.
Socialist Alliance also want a Bill of Rights! Also to dismantle ASIO. Get rid of anti-terror laws, extend anti-discrimination laws. Voluntary Assisted Dying for all states and territories (so lift the ban on the territories).
Socialist Alliance also want stronger workers rights across the board. Better penalty rates, better unions, more apprenticeships, pension age retirement being 55, decriminalise sex work, and introduce a 30 hour work week (interesting, instead of a 4 day week. Works out similarly, but I guess supports 7.5 hours/4 days OR 6 hours/5 days).
Welfare policies include scrapping Work for the Dole (yes!), no compulsory income management, free 24 hour childcare availability, welfare payments lifted above poverty line and indexed to CPI, get rid of the Job Network and return the public service version...this basically reads like the AUWU wishlist. Universal aged pension, better disability services and support, nationalise aged care. Run the NDIS better and publicly with more support, based on individual’s needs.
Women’s rights are eliminate the pay gap, publicly funded abortion and contraception, prevent foetal personhood laws, expand refuges and consent education, more paid parental leave, provide paid domestic and family violence leave and sexual assault leave.
Queer rights are full anti-discrimination legislation, no religious exemptions, better supportive healthcare and identity change documents, better school sex education, and paid leave for gender affirmation/transition treatment.
Basically, Socialist Alliance want paid leave for every difficulty you face. If things have been bad or you need medical assistance, you should get leave. Also welfare should be enough to cover you during the times you cannot or are unable to obtain work.
Free education from primary to tertiary and vocational, abolish all HECS debts. More funding for public schools, cut all funding to private education. “Democratise TAFE and universities including student and staff control of curriculum”. (This sounds fun but also extremely dramatic, do not let stupol determine curriculum folks).
Free housing for all! Free healthcare for all! Dental into Medicare, mandated ratios of care in Aged Care. Better tenancy rights.
More public transport: “comprehensive, frequent and free” (I’m not hugely on board with free public transport; many of the users can afford it just fine), more suburban and high speed inter-city rail (oh yeahhh).
Fund the ABC and SBS, so SBS no longer needs to run ads. (PLEASE). Fibre to the premises NBN for all. Government bodies should use open source software (I see the upsides, but that also seems less than ideal for hacking attempts), telecommunications should be publicly owned again.
A bunch of animal welfare policies, with end live exports, better free range farming regulations, and then a whole suite of every animal welfare policy you’ve ever seen.
“Solidarity and international aid, not war and occupation” – this policy has a lot of reparations to other countries for invasions, prosecute war crimes (can we start with BRS and his buddies?), end ANZUS and close all US bases in Australia, no nuclear subs, don’t send military abroad, stop being imperialists in the Pacific, solidarity with everyone.
Water should not be owned privately, better management, preserve water quality and develop a national water conservation plan. Proper river flows, and phase out water-intensive crops.
Is this party trying to kill me?
No, Socialist Alliance would rather have a socially liberal worker’s paradise. Solidarity!
Is this party trying to harm me?
Not really. A bunch of their policies I cannot see ever getting up, but there’s nothing particularly harmful in there.
Conclusion:
Look, it’s Socialist Alliance. They would like public ownership of all national assets, a proper welfare state, socially progressive policies to support equity and equality in marginalised communities, and climate action and refugees treated like humans. I’m not sure we’re ready for the socialist paradise, but Socialist Alliance are certainly thorough at laying out what they want to change to get there.
Website: https://socialist-alliance.org/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/socialistallnce
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SocialistAlliance
(My review for the 2021 WA Election)
Socialist Alliance are one of only two socialist parties who made it through the 1,500 members culls (the other being the Victorian Socialists). The party was founded in 2001 and have been contesting election at all levels of government, and have only been successful at local government level. Nevertheless, they do have some practical government experience.
Socialist Alliance want a democratic socialist society in Australia. They want communities, trade unions and social movements to come together to create a better collective good. Radical democracy for all!
Party Analysis
Socialist Alliance, as is traditional, have approximately eleventy one policies on their website, many of them deeply earnest and longwinded.
Their taxation policy is pretty straightforward. No Stage 3 tax cuts, tax the rich more, introduce a wealth tax for the super rich, more large company taxes, remove negative gearing from investment properties. Basically, tax the wealthy, block the loopholes, use the money for a better socialist good. Also scrap the Medicare levy and pay for healthcare out of the ordinary tax pool rather than claiming it comes from a separate levy.
Public ownership of property! Time to nationalise everything, folks! Government to seize ownership of: mines, banks, and energy companies. Put them under community and worker control. Stop any further privatisation of public assets. And we need to form WORKER COOPERATIVES. The spirit of Marxism lives on.
Socialist Alliance demand Real Climate Action. 100% renewables within 5-10 years, but no specific date put on net-zero. Phase out all fossil fuels and their subsidies. Take control of the energy companies. More reforestation, end old growth logging, more remediation of mines. No nuclear power. It’s a bit of a grab bag but generally “transition power” and “replant things”.
The list of demands for parliamentary changes is interesting. They want a Federal ICAC (of course) and to prevent former ministers lobbying for their portfolios or on boards (also a big policy the social left are into), and then we get more serious. Religion out of politics. Politicians paid an average worker’s wage (I don’t think this is a good idea, but I also assume in Socialist Utopia there are a lot more social services). Proportional representation at all levels of government! (time to change the voting system). Public funding for all electoral candidates (as I’ve said before, this is a lovely idea but I also don’t support funding the hobbyists), a new constitutional convention for reform, and HTVs displayed at all polling booths. Oh and voting age dropped to 16.
First Nations policies include no specific call of whether to follow Uluru Statement from the Heart. They do want treaties and “First Nation control of First Nations’ affairs” but no specifics on a Voice or not. Lots of support for communities, more community control, stop child separation, repeal Intervention laws and cashless welfare cards. Implement the Deaths in Custody recommendations and the whole of Close the Gap (yes, yes, fuck yes).
More rights for asylum seekers and migrants. Obviously end all detention, honour refugee UN commitments, and dismantle Border Force. Abolish Temporary Protection Visas and provide permanent stability for refugees. Increase the number of refugees, more family reunion visas, prepare and act on climate refugees.
Socialist Alliance also want a Bill of Rights! Also to dismantle ASIO. Get rid of anti-terror laws, extend anti-discrimination laws. Voluntary Assisted Dying for all states and territories (so lift the ban on the territories).
Socialist Alliance also want stronger workers rights across the board. Better penalty rates, better unions, more apprenticeships, pension age retirement being 55, decriminalise sex work, and introduce a 30 hour work week (interesting, instead of a 4 day week. Works out similarly, but I guess supports 7.5 hours/4 days OR 6 hours/5 days).
Welfare policies include scrapping Work for the Dole (yes!), no compulsory income management, free 24 hour childcare availability, welfare payments lifted above poverty line and indexed to CPI, get rid of the Job Network and return the public service version...this basically reads like the AUWU wishlist. Universal aged pension, better disability services and support, nationalise aged care. Run the NDIS better and publicly with more support, based on individual’s needs.
Women’s rights are eliminate the pay gap, publicly funded abortion and contraception, prevent foetal personhood laws, expand refuges and consent education, more paid parental leave, provide paid domestic and family violence leave and sexual assault leave.
Queer rights are full anti-discrimination legislation, no religious exemptions, better supportive healthcare and identity change documents, better school sex education, and paid leave for gender affirmation/transition treatment.
Basically, Socialist Alliance want paid leave for every difficulty you face. If things have been bad or you need medical assistance, you should get leave. Also welfare should be enough to cover you during the times you cannot or are unable to obtain work.
Free education from primary to tertiary and vocational, abolish all HECS debts. More funding for public schools, cut all funding to private education. “Democratise TAFE and universities including student and staff control of curriculum”. (This sounds fun but also extremely dramatic, do not let stupol determine curriculum folks).
Free housing for all! Free healthcare for all! Dental into Medicare, mandated ratios of care in Aged Care. Better tenancy rights.
More public transport: “comprehensive, frequent and free” (I’m not hugely on board with free public transport; many of the users can afford it just fine), more suburban and high speed inter-city rail (oh yeahhh).
Fund the ABC and SBS, so SBS no longer needs to run ads. (PLEASE). Fibre to the premises NBN for all. Government bodies should use open source software (I see the upsides, but that also seems less than ideal for hacking attempts), telecommunications should be publicly owned again.
A bunch of animal welfare policies, with end live exports, better free range farming regulations, and then a whole suite of every animal welfare policy you’ve ever seen.
“Solidarity and international aid, not war and occupation” – this policy has a lot of reparations to other countries for invasions, prosecute war crimes (can we start with BRS and his buddies?), end ANZUS and close all US bases in Australia, no nuclear subs, don’t send military abroad, stop being imperialists in the Pacific, solidarity with everyone.
Water should not be owned privately, better management, preserve water quality and develop a national water conservation plan. Proper river flows, and phase out water-intensive crops.
Is this party trying to kill me?
No, Socialist Alliance would rather have a socially liberal worker’s paradise. Solidarity!
Is this party trying to harm me?
Not really. A bunch of their policies I cannot see ever getting up, but there’s nothing particularly harmful in there.
Conclusion:
Look, it’s Socialist Alliance. They would like public ownership of all national assets, a proper welfare state, socially progressive policies to support equity and equality in marginalised communities, and climate action and refugees treated like humans. I’m not sure we’re ready for the socialist paradise, but Socialist Alliance are certainly thorough at laying out what they want to change to get there.
