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View Full Version : Australian Federal Election, Nov 24



chebol
13th November 2007, 07:05
VOTE 1 SOCIALIST ALLIANCE
Our key policies for federal election 2007

For detail on the Socialist Alliance candidate in your electorate and our Senate teams go to http://www.socialist-alliance.org

1. Tear up all of Work Choices
No to individual contracts Yes to collective agreements in workplaces and across industries The rights of casual and part time employees to be the same as for full-time workers Defend the right to strike For strong and democratic unions Get rid of the Australian Building and Construction Commission

2. Stop the destruction of our planet
The Socialist Alliance supports 60% emissions reductions by 2020 and 90% by 2030 compared to 1990 levels. Stop logging of old growth forest Stop Gunns' pulp mill No dredging of Port Phillip Bay End the mining and processing of uranium and pull Australia out of the nuclear cycle Implement an emergency program to phase out coal and rapidly make renewable energy the main source for the power grid Bring all power industries under public ownership Free and efficient public transport

3. Make poverty history, free health and education
Universal and free education and health systems Medicare to cover optical and dental More money for all levels of public education No TAFE or university fees A living wage for all carers, pensioners and unemployed

4. Fix the housing crisis
Stop the privatisation of public housing Build new public housing to end the waiting list Improve maintenance of public housing End private rental profiteering End repossession of homes due to increases in mortgage repayments

5. Bring the troops home
Withdraw all foreign troops from Iraq and Afghanistan. Let the Iraqi and Afghan people determine their future War spending to be redirected for social services and to assist poor countries Free Palestine No war on Iran Self determination for the Tamil people in Sri Lanka No to Australia's imperialist role in Asia and the Pacific

6. Defend Aboriginal rights
Solidarity with Indigenous peoples’ struggles No government intervention in Aboriginal affairs (Northern Territory and elsewhere) Land rights not land grabs No more black deaths in custody Justice for victims of police racism like Redfern’s T. J. Hickey and Palm Island’s Mulrunji

7. Scrap anti-terrorism laws
Stop attacks on Islamic and Middle Eastern communities Restore civil liberties lost under anti-terrorism laws Free all people presently held under ‘anti-terror’ laws, like David Hicks, the Goulburn 9 and the Barwon 13, and drop the charges against the 3 Tamil activists Stop harassment of Mamdouh Habib, and provide compensation for his ordeal

8. End all discrimination
Equal pay for equal work irrespective of sex, age or race Repeal all laws that discriminate on the basis of sexual orientation Support same-sex marriage and adoption rights Expand maternity leave and legalise abortion All refugees welcome to Australia and be given full citizenship rights Close all dentention centres and build Refugee Help Centres for new arrivals

chebol
13th November 2007, 07:11
Download the "Hot Planet, Cool Party" climate change quiz powerpoint. (http://www.socialist-alliance.org/resources/Hot_Planet_Cool_Party.pps)

chebol
13th November 2007, 07:25
Also, a warning for anyone in Australia voting this Nov 24. The Socialist Alliance asks that you give us your first preference (or the Socialist Party in the seat of Melbourne and the Greens in other lower house seats where we aren't running), then the Greens and other socialists or progressives before the ALP.

However, BE VERY CAREFUL! Our lovely friends in the Socialist Equality Party (local franchise of the WSWS-producing, anti-union, wacky ICFI) have decided to split their preferences 3 ways - ALP, Green and ..... the Coalition! As if Stalin didn't give socialists a bad enough name....

Voting doesn't change much, but it changes one or two things - including governments. While the ALP is pretty shithouse, the last thing we need is Howard with a "mandate" for more wars, workchoices, invasions of indigenous communities and locking up of refugees. Giving the ALP a chance to do those things (which they will) will help to convince more people of the need to fight against both major parties - certainly much more than the surly rhetoric of the nutty SEP will.

For more:
Behind the blather - outbreak of mad sectarian disease (http://www.greenleft.org.au/2007/731/37899)

So vote Socialist Alliance and/ or Green, but watch out for the whack-jobs.