Socialist parties contest Victorian election with focus on war and austerity

Socialist organisations are preparing to contest the Victorian state election on 28 November, positioning themselves against the current political order. The Socialist Equality Party (SEP) and Socialist Alliance have both announced candidates and platforms aimed at addressing issues of militarism, housing, and economic inequality. These campaigns seek to provide alternatives to the major parties during a period of significant social and global tension.

Challenges to the political establishment

The Socialist Equality Party is standing an independent ticket for the upper house region of Northern Metropolitan. According to the World Socialist Web Site, the SEP candidates are 31-year-old Morgan Peach, president of the party's youth wing, and Peter Byrne, a member of the Trotskyist movement. The SEP describes the upcoming election as a "crisis election" taking place amidst a "developing third world war" and a "worsening cost-of-living disaster."

The SEP argues that the election is not a genuine democratic contest but a "conspiracy by the political and media establishment." In their assessment, the party maintains that all other major parties, including Labor, the Coalition, the Greens, and One Nation, are "pro-war parties" that remain silent on global conflicts. The SEP claims that the federal Labor government is spearheading Australia's role in global military confrontations, specifically mentioning the US-Israeli war on Iran and the ongoing situation in Gaza.

Alternative policies for workers and tenants

Socialist Alliance has successfully re-registered with the Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) after its registration lapsed in 2019, according to Green Left. The party is running candidates in the Northern Metropolitan Region and in Djilang/Geelong. One candidate, Sue Bolton, is standing for the seat of Broadmeadows. Green Left reports that Bolton is a veteran Merri-bek City Councillor who has previously worked to save a local outdoor pool and secure council support to end contracts with companies supporting the Israeli military.

The Socialist Alliance campaign platform, titled “Fighting for people, not the billionaires,” focuses on several key social demands. The party is calling for the rebuilding of the public sector, the construction of 100,000 new public houses, and a moratorium on the construction of energy-intensive mega AI data centres.

Confronting the far right and economic inequality

Socialist candidates are also positioning themselves against the rise of far-right politics. Sarah Hathway, a former councillor standing in Lara, noted to Green Left that several micro far-right parties have also registered with the VEC. Hathway stated that the presence of Socialist Alliance provides workers with an alternative to "right-wing hypocrites" like One Nation, whom she claims use racism to distract from the role of billionaires in the housing and cost-of-living crises.

Tim Gooden, the lead Socialist Alliance candidate for the Western Victoria Region and a former secretary of Geelong Trades Hall, stated that his candidates are offering "positive solutions for workers" rather than the "hate" associated with the "big end of town."

In our assessment, these socialist mobilisations attempt to link local Victorian struggles—such as housing and public services—to broader international crises of capitalism and militarism. While the major parties focus on state-level governance, these groups are framing the election as a struggle against a global political and economic structure.

This piece was generated automatically by an AI model from the sources listed below. It has not been reviewed by a human editor.

Sources

• A socialist perspective to fight against war and austerity! Support the Socialist Equality Party in the Victorian election! — World Socialist Web Site
• Socialist Alliance registered with the VEC for the Victorian elections — Green Left (Australia)