Western Australian elections

Socialist Alliance believes we need a political voice that is 100% on the side of workers, their families, communities and unions in the fight for a better world. Below are some of our campaign priorities. Check them out - if you agree with our policies and approach then vote for us!

End WA support for US war machine!

The WA government has actively supported the US war machine by encouraging Seaswap in Fremantle and allowing US bombing practice at Lancelin. The illegal US led invasion of Iraq has killed over one hundred thousand Iraqis in this so called “war on terror”. The reality is that the US government is the world's biggest sponsor of terrorism and WA should play no part in its plans!

* Stop US Navy visits - no more Seaswaps

* Close Lancelin bombing range

* Troops out now! No Australian involvement in the occupation.

Fix workers' compensation

Support injured workers not the parasitic insurance companies! Gallop promised to fix Keirath's rotten scheme. However in the legislation passed by Labor and the Greens last October they give a little with one hand but then take much more with the other. The government has introduced changes that will make it even more difficult for injured workers to be properly compensated.

Why? The government boasts that the new scheme will reduce common law claims by up to 70% thus saving insurance companies millions. They already make around $270 million in clear profits every year from workers' comp. These leeches should be cut out of the process altogether by the setting up of a single not-for-profit government run fund.

In the meantime we demand:

* All injured workers have the right to sue.

* Junking the “impairment” measure and restoration of the “disability” measure.

* The right to consult your own doctor and right of appeal to the courts. These are basic democratic rights.

No privatisation of our coastline!

The beaches, rivers and coastline belong to us all. They should not be carved up and sold off to the idle rich.

* Save South Beach - make the government stick to the 100 metre coastal setback policy.

* No canals on Coogee Beach - we don't need to fill in the ocean to create resorts for the rich. Let's restore the dunes instead and make the coastline an accessible place for all.

* No high rises at Cottesloe or Scarborough. Who wants our beaches overshadowed by eyesore tower blocks like the Gold Coast?

End systemic racism against Indigenous West Australians

The Gallop Government's approach to the Indigenous peoples of WA has been nothing short of scandalous. From blaming Aboriginal youth for Northbridge crime with a draconian curfew to closing the Lockridge camp after pandering to unsubstantiated and racist media hysteria. The government's approach has been to attack Indigenous West Australians rather than that of support. The establishment of a World Vision support centre in Armadale at the invitation of the Indigenous community is a damning indictment of the government's shameful neglect. To begin to redress 200 years of systemic racism we call on any WA government to:

* Immediately and permanently fund the Gordon Inquiry's recommendations to empower Indigenous community workers in the delivery of critical community services.

* Massively increase health care funding and services for urban and remote Indigenous communities.

* Implement real measures to rectify the chronic inability to address Aboriginal housing issues

* Begin the process of reconciliation with an apology for the Stolen Generations.

Proper funding for our schools, hospitals & public transport

Basic social infrastructure is essential to meet the daily needs of people in any society. Governments cannot be allowed to run it down and sell it off to private sector profiteers. Privatisation is social vandalism. We should:

* Support our nurses in their fight for a better deal.

* Stop and reverse privatisation of gas, electricity, railways and public transport. Keep social infrastructure in public hands!

* Extend renewable energy projects such as wind farms and solar power to reduce the use of fossil fuels.

* Maintain and expand our regional hospitals, keep obstetrics at Kalamunda.

* Build more public housing. Rent relief pushes up rents and house prices. It ends up as welfare to landlords. More public housing will push prices and rents down.

* Build railways not more freeways. The new Mandurah railway should be the first step in the regeneration of public transport and rail infrastructure such as tramways, railfreight and extending the Midland line to Swan View.

* Stop big business wasting our precious water! Make industry and agribusiness pay for their massive water useage - use the money generated to fund investment in watersaving technology in all areas of water useage to minimise waste.

Hands off our unions

Community support can stop bosses' attacks! The federal government has made it clear it wants to push through more anti-union laws in order to reduce workers' wages and conditions. We can't expect the Gallop government to protect us from Howard and we know a Barnett government would be rabidly anti-worker. Instead we must look to the force that enabled unions to win the conditions many of us take for granted today. That force is the combined solidarity, determination and courage of the working people of this country.

* Support the CFMEU. When a bosses' rag like the West Australian attacks it every week you know the construction union is effectively defending its members. The employers hate the CFMEU because of this fact - it's an example and pace-setter in defending workers' rights. That's exactly why we should all support it with every means we can.

* Free Craig Johnston! This Victorian unionist and Socialist Alliance member has been jailed for fighting for the jobs of sacked workers. We are supporting a solidarity campaign to free Craig to show Howard, Gallop, Barnett and the bosses that workers will not be intimidated.

* Force anti-union laws off the books. Community support for the MUA at picket lines in 1998 forced Howard and Patricks to back down. We must defend any sector of society under attack. Anti-union laws are an attack on your rights. We should make anti-union laws unworkable and campaign for them to be scrapped.

Another Australia is Possible

Socialist Alliance is a campaigning, anti-capitalist party which makes our approach to politics and election campaigns different from other parties.

We don't just pop our heads up at election time. The Alliance acts all the year round to build movements for progressive change. The alternative for which we are fighting can only grow through strengthening people's participation in all movements for justice. Election campaigns are just one part of this process.Whether it was saving the Franklin River, winning equal pay for women or bringing in the eight hour day, history has shown that this is the way that progressive changes are made.

Socialist Alliance parliamentarians would use their positions to help strengthen grassroots movements for social justice and working people's rights. If elected our candidates would take only the average worker's wage and donate the rest to grassroots movements.

The Socialist Alliance doesn't just fight for reforms as an end in themselves. The policies we advocate point to a new type of society. Our goal is an Australia where the majority of people would really gain the power to make the decisions presently made by the Kerry Packers and the John Howards of this world. People's self-government is the essence of what we mean by socialism.

How do I get in contact?

Check out our website at www.socialist-alliance.org. You can contact us by email at perth@socialist-alliance.org or by phone on 9218 9608.

What about preferences?

In the Legislative Council (Upper House) our preferences flow first to the Greens and progressive independents and then to the ALP .

In the Legislative Assembly (Lower House) we recommend you vote Greens then ALP and preference religious fundamentalist and far right parties like CDP, Family First and One Nation last.

Vote 1 Socialist Alliance on Feb 26th Legislative Council candidates (Upper House).

While the Socialist Alliance has gained federal registration we are not yet registered in WA, so look for the names of our candidates on the ballot paper.

Emma Clancy

National organiser of 2003 student strikes against war

South Metropolitan Region

Ian Jamieson

Wharfie, former local government councillor and trade union president

Sam Wainwright

Wharfie and union delegate

Authorised by R. Pickering, Unit 15/5 Aberdeen St, East Perth. Printed by S.O.S Printers, Unit 7/207 Bank St, Victoria Park, 6101.

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