I’m Liz Walsh, lead Victorian Socialists upper house candidate for the western metropolitan region in the November 2022 state election. I live in Maidstone with my family, including my newborn daughter.
I believe people in the western suburbs deserve better than what the current government and its friends, the big developers, have to offer.
I’ve been a committed socialist for the last 25 years. In high school I participated in school walk outs against Pauline Hanson. Since then I’ve been a consistent opponent of all forms of racism, and have been centrally involved in campaigns for refugee rights. I am committed to working alongside refugee and migrant communities across the west, in demanding decent work conditions, permanent visa protection, and an end to racist policing.
I also have a long track record of standing up for workers’ rights. I’ve stood alongside striking warehouse workers fighting for decent wages and job security, and with the essential workers demanding better conditions during the pandemic. I want to see workers get a pay rise above inflation and the decades of privatisation and underfunding of essential services reversed.
Recently I initiated a campaign to expand abortion rights and access. Following the US Supreme Court ban on abortion I called and chaired a rally in Melbourne of over 15,000. I believe we have to fight to defend our rights, and cannot be complacent. Grassroots movements are essential.
A socialist voice in parliament would mean putting the interests of ordinary people front and centre. It would massively strengthen our movements, from refugee rights to the fight for climate justice. I hope you will join me in this campaign!