On September 19, Socialist Alliance members in the Subiaco-Shenton Park-Leederville area of Perth held a screening of Michael Moore's Roger and Me, the first step in the process of building a Socialist Alliance branch in the Curtin electorate.
Around 40 people were in attendance, many of whom came along as a result of extensive letterboxing in the local area. In the lead-up to the event, comrades also ran several stalls outside a busy Subiaco market, distributing hundreds of flyers advertising the film screening and in the process meeting a number of people interested in Alliance activity.
The highlight of the evening was the attendance of local firebrand, railway worker and socialist mayor of Subiaco, Tony Costa. He gave an impassioned speech attacking the Howard government's proposed changes to industrial relations legislation, which he sees as a local manifestation of capitalist globalisation, the underlying theme of Roger and Me.
Costa, a local legend in the Subiaco area, also remarked, "I was an active member of the Labor Party for a long time and found my energies were being wasted, as people like me, working people, were more and more sold out, and that's why I see the Socialist Alliance as an alternative".
Although he is intent on remaining only a sympathiser, Costa has very positive things to say about the Alliance: "The Socialist Alliance is an inclusive organisation that welcomes socialists from a variety of political backgrounds. As the people's mayor and a life-long unionist with no love for the Labor Party, I congratulate the Socialist Alliance on hosting its inaugural event in Subiaco. I hope there are many more events like it in the future."
Everyone came way from the night with a sense that the sky is the limit for socialism in the suburbs.
The Socialist Alliance in Western Australia is currently undertaking an ambitious outreach program in a number of suburban areas. In the Swan hills a branch has recently been established, and in Victoria Park a successful film night at the end of September re-launched the Alliance into the south eastern suburbs. Our success to date can be put down to enthusiasm, persistence and letterboxing, letterboxing, letterboxing!