Socialist Alliance: for a Working Council for Working People

Maribyrnong City Council has been controlled by the Labor Party since its formation. Although styling itself as a party for workers, Labor has continually backed the interest of big business against that of working people. Council is hungry to attract new business by slashing rates. What this means for us is slashing services.

Working people need their own politics - politics that are responsive to human need not corporate greed. Socialist Alliance is campaigning to build these politics. If you agree with us, don't just vote for us. Join us & become active. A better world is possible. Together we can build it.

Socialist Alliance stands for a council that will:

No to War, No to Racism.

Maribyrnong Council has voted itself an "anti-war zone". Socialist Alliance will campaign to put this statement into action. Council must campaign to involve & organise local residents against the war on Iraq. Socialist Alliance councilors would encourage, promote & resource each & every anti-war group within the council boundaries. If elected we would offer free advertising on council property for anti-war hoardings, banners & posters. We would organise community marches & festivals against the war, we would deny any assistance to the military machine within council boundaries. We want the West to be the heartland of political struggle against the War with or without UN endorsement & to campaign against any Australian involvement. We would campaign around the related issues of the anti-democratic anti-terrorism laws & the racist profiling of Islamic communities.

Free the Refugees

Maribyrnong Council has declared itself a refugee-friendly zone. This should be more than establishing working groups to advocate for reasonable treatment of refugees in the Maribyrnong Detention Centre as the present council has done. We need a council that will campaign to close the MDC altogether. We want no detention of people fleeing war, oppression & poverty within council boundaries or anywhere else. If elected we would provide access to all council services to refugees & those on Temporary Protection Visas. We would fund refugee rights organisations like the Asylum Seekers Resource Centre in Nicholson St, Footscray. We would initiate a cross-council national campaign to end the policy of mandatory detention altogether.

No Toxic Dump, Close Coode Island

The toxic and hazardous chemical storage facility on Coode Island is an environmental risk & danger to local residents. Between 1980 & 1993 73 spills, leaks & fires took place at the facility. On August 21 1991 it exploded in fire which lasted two days & became one of Australia's worst industrial accidents. Coode Island is only 600 metres from the Yarraville Gardens, 900 metres from Footscray Primary School & 1200 metres from the Footscray & Yarraville Shopping Centres. Yet only last year Maribyrnong City Council began agitating for control of the facility to raise revenue. Socialist Alliance will campaign for the facility to be closed rather than trying to win profits at the expense of the health of local people & the environment.

Save Footscray Pool

We oppose the current council's decision to close the Footscray pool & instead invest in establishing the Maribyrnong Aquatic Centre at Robert Barret Reserve in Maribyrnong. This decision is part of a an alliance with Brimbank Council & the Highpoint Shopping Centre to open a $17 million facility at the expense of local pools in Footscray and Sunshine. The current Maribyrnong council is not prepared to subsidise this service for local residents and instead invest in a profit-making enterprise for Highpoint Shopping Centre. The current council is prepared to spend $5million on building a new facility rather than upgrade and resource the existing pool. This is clearly prioritising the interests of big business over the needs of local residents. Many local residents, especially the elderly &unemployed, would be unable to travel to this new pool facility. Support for the save the pool campaign is widespread among Maribyrnong residents. Socialist Alliance will campaign to maintain & upgrade subsidised local facilities, & place them under the control of local residents.

Safe Injecting Rooms

Socialist Alliance campaigns for the decriminalisation of personal drug use. We will campaign for the provision of safe injecting rooms for all IV drug users, & an end to individual harassment by police & other authorities. This approach will remove drug use from our streets where it is a hazard to all residents, & provide an environment that prevents overdoses & needle sharing & aids in rehabilitation of drug users. Drug use is a social & medical issue - not a criminal issue. The current council is trying to brush the issue under the carpet - forcing users away from the CBD. While this may increase property values it will not solve this social crisis.

Trucks Off Residential Streets

Yarraville streets are currently being used by over 12 000 trucks per day! While the Victorian EPA has stated that there are "no safe levels of exposure to diesel emissions", community concern about pollution, noise levels and road safety have fallen on deaf ears. The State Government's curfew on trucks is a only paper solution. Socialist Alliance will campaign for a ban on 'through trucks' (those without local destinations); alone this would cut traffic by up to 80%. Additionally, the Socialist Alliance will tackle the fundamental questions of privatization (trucks use Yarraville Sts to avoid CityLink tolls) and resident participation in policy formulation. We will support fully community campaigns such as the Yarraville Residents Traffic Group & others.

Public Housing

Between 1996 & June 2000, median property values in Yarraville increased by 66%. Almost the entire Maribyrnong region has experienced similar rises, resulting in this traditionally working class area being placed out of reach of many ordinary people, pushing them further into the outer suburbs away from adequate job opportunities, public transport etc.. The Socialist Alliance will campaign for the publicly funded housing & related services that is so urgently needed for our many migrant & low wage residents.

Socialist Alliance

Socialist Alliance is a party of activists committed to progressive campaigns for a society free from racism, poverty & war. If elected Socialist Alliance councillors would donate council perks & stipends to help build social justice campaigns & movements in the West. We want to build a society where people come before profit. As councilors we would not seek to 'represent' local campaigns - rather we would help organise them, resource them, & help them win.

If you would like more information about how to get involved in the campaign in the City of Maribyrnong, ring Linda on 0403 920 394 or email her at indali51@hotmail.com