Socialist Alliance conference notes growth, plans campaigns against imperialism
The 20th National Conference of the Socialist Alliance took place in Djilang/Geelong over the weekend of January 10-11.
The conference was preceded by a two-day Marxist Summer School, which was double the size of previous such seminars. This, as well as reports from new organising teams based in the Blue Mountains (NSW) and Wooditchup/Margaret River (WA) and growth in other branches marked important progress for the party.
Discussion was significantly shaped by world events, beginning with an international report that analysed the continuing genocide in Gaza and the Trump regime’s recent attack on Venezuela.
That report observed that acquiescence by the Anthony Albanese Labor government to the Trump agenda is the inevitable logic of AUKUS. Delegates reaffirmed the Socialist Alliance’s commitment to building the Palestine solidarity campaign, scrapping AUKUS and opposition to US aggression towards Latin America.
Socialist Alliance has a strong commitment to building links with socialists in the Asia-Pacific. Two international guests attended and gave presentations, including one from the Malaysian Socialist Party.
The conference noted the significant progress the party had made towards achieving electoral registration in Queensland, Tasmania, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia, with a resolution passed affirming the Socialist Alliance’s intention to complete the process in all these states.
Delegates unanimously declined a proposal from the newly-formed Socialist Party that the Socialist Alliance immediately relinquish its own electoral registration, in order to become a tendency within the Socialist Party.
Instead, delegates reaffirmed support for the previously agreed position of both parties to: Seek to to avoid running in the same seats and to consider endorsing each other’s candidates; Joint upper house electoral tickets where agreement can be reached; and to explore areas for potential cooperation and collaboration between the two organisations.
The now annual Ecosocialism Conference is growing in attendance and reputation. The conference agreed Socialist Alliance will host Ecosocialism 2026 in Magan-djin/Brisbane from September 11-13.
For the last few years the party has increased its emphasis on socialist education. In line with this focus, the conference approved a proposal to publish new pamphlets centred on themes including patriarchy and gender oppression, Lenin revisited and socialist strategy and tactics.
In the final session, the conference delegates elected Jacob Andrewartha, Sam Wainwright and Sue Bull as the party’s National Co-convenors.
