Campaign News

Sue Munro’s campaign as the Victorian Socialists candidate in the Werribee by-election has played an important role in establishing that there is a left-wing alternative to Labor’s betrayals, and consolidating our efforts to entrench socialism on the political map of working-class Melbourne. Sue, along with a small army of dedicated volunteers, put in two solid weeks at early voting, culminating in an epic election day effort on Saturday 8 February. 

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Meeting: Monday January 27 at 5pm.

https://us06web.zoom.us/j/89987336314

Meeting ID: 899 8733 6314

Passcode: 2545

 

We're proud to announce that long-time socialist and community activist Sue Munro will be our candidate for the upcoming Werribee by-election. We'll be launching our campaign with a gathering for local VS members and volunteers in the coming weeks.

Sue writes:

"I’m a Werribee local and agency-enrolled nurse working in the public acute-care system. Working in hospitals I’ve seen the neglect of essential public services up close, and that’s just one part of the growing inequality from which our community is suffering.

On September the 14th VS West members took part in the Solidarity Cup for Palestine at Selwyn park, Albion.  The solidarity event and fundraiser was organized by a collective of organisations in Melbourne's west, including Community Soccer Hub, Brimbank for Palestine, Maribyrnong for Palestine, Hobson Bay for Palestine, Wyndham for Palestine and Melton for Palestine.

Israel is invading Lebanon. No, it’s not 2006, 1982 or 1978, its 2024 and we are 51 weeks into Israel’s genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. The Israeli state, hungry for even more war and emboldened by support from countries like the US and Australian has turned its eyes on Lebanon, for the fourth time in the last 45 years. 

On September the 11th, Victorian Socialist candidates and members were part of the Disrupt Land-Forces Conference rally at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre. 

Council elections are taking place in Victoria this October and Victorian Socialists are running by far our biggest campaign yet.

Victorian Socialist members have been busy in the western suburbs organising alongside members of the community in response to the disastrous Derrimut Chemical factory fire that occurred on 10 July, which spewed toxic smoke across the west and resulted in chemicals polluting local waterways.

On the 27th of July Victorian Socialist members held a secondhand book sale to raise money for the Ni’lin Popular Committee. Our book sale was hosted with Red Flag Books at our shared space at 83 Sydney Road, Brunswick.

Early on Thursday morning 28 June a community picket took place to stop work at the Thomastown factory of Electromold. The picket kicked off a new wing of the campaign against Melbourne-based weapons manufacturers who profit from supplying the tools for Israel’s genocide.

On Saturday June 15 more than 60 people from the Maribyrnong community came to our launch to hear from VS candidates Jorge Jorquera and Catherine Robertson. Jorge shared some of Victorian Socialists’ achievements on Council over the past four years – including the successful Palestine solidarity motion, work in support of public and community housing, fighting to save Footscray Park and McIvor Reserve, and more.

On the 15th of June hundreds attended a protest parade organized by Darebin for Palestine. The rally started in Preston marching along High st to Northcote, stopping off at the offices of labor MPs Nathan Lambert, Ged Kearney and Kat Theophanous. 

The rally was calling on the state and federal governments to stop arming genocide, to cut ties with Israel and to stand with Palestinians. 

Lucas Moore, Victoria Socialist candidate for Olympia ward in Banyule Council, spoke to a crowd of thousands at the Melbourne Free Palestine rally on June 9 – week 35 of Israel’s onslaught, and of the protests. 

Victorian Socialist members took part in a community event out the front of Andrew Giles office in Thomastown on 31 May, as part of a national day of action against Labor MPs complicit in genocide. 

So what has the Andrew Giles, Labor’s Immigration Minister done whilst Palestinians experience genocide in Gaza? Surely it’s not all bad? Humanitarian visas you might think? 

Local residents rallied at the Nillumbik Council offices in Greensborough on 28 May, calling on the Council to stand in solidarity with Palestinians as they face genocide in Gaza. Victorian Socialist members including Lucas Moore, candidate for Olympia ward in Banyule Council, attended the rally and spoke.

Mutullah Can Yolbulan (Mutu), Vic Socialists’ council candidate for Merlynston Creek ward in Hume City Council spoke at a Hume for Palestine rally on 13 May.

1. Bring politics into the workplace with badges, keffiyehs and posters for your noticeboard and a socialist paper, if you can. Sometimes wearing badges will feel as if it’s going unnoticed, but even if you don’t strike up conversation immediately, you’re signalling that it’s worthwhile to bring politics into work which can give confidence to others. Showing your colours can often strike up conversations you wouldn’t expect.

Carrum Downs, just a couple of kilometres from Frankston, isn’t known as a hotbed of radicalism. As far as we know, there’s never been a socialist electoral campaign there. 

Voting starts on Monday 19 Feb! Three ways to help Reem’s campaign

The Victoria University National Tertiary Education Union Palestine Action Group (VU NTEU PAG) has continued to campaign over recent months. 

We are excited to announce that Palestinian-Australian activist and socialist Reem Yunis will be the Victorian Socialists candidate for the Dunkley by-election, coming up on Saturday 2 March.

Protest at Campbellfield weapons manufacturer – this Friday 2 Feb 10am to 12 noon at HTA (Heat Treatment Australia), 43B Lara Rd Campbellfield

Communities all around Victoria have been taking the struggle for solidarity with Palestine to their local councils, as a way of challenging the appalling blanket of silence on Israel’s genocide from every level of government in Australia. 

More tips for successful workplace discussions

Two success stories: First, how a Vic Socialists member in a suburban office in Melbourne got workmates to the Sunday rallies and to help with local poster runs. And second, a thoughtful piece about the challenges of creating a space for discussions and organising on Palestine in a Melbourne high school. 

At the tail end of 2023, a wave of councils around Melbourne began passing pro-Palestine motions. This guide was put together to collate the lessons from VS activists involved in getting some of these motions passed.

Even with the repressive, anti-free-speech atmosphere created by government dictates in schools and other public sector workplaces, it’s still possible – and often very worthwhile – to create discussions around Palestine. These two stories show how from VS members and teacher union activists show how.

An impressive turnout by the community at the the Hume ‘rally for humanity’ outside Broadmeadows Town Hall on Mond 18 December. Great to see community pressure once again convince a local council to pass a Palestine Solidarity motion. 

Excellent result in Darebin Council on Monday evening 18th of December, where community pressure forced the Labor and Greens councillors to vote in favour of a strong pro-Palestine motion.

Report from Palestine solidarity worker activist at Victoria University

Our wrap-up of recent workers’ actions around the world in solidarity with Palestine, from port workers in Belgium, to bus drivers in the US.

A lot of people are highly motivated about Palestine, but unfortunately we’re still a minority of society. A much larger group of people – including many of our workmates – are shaken up, and up for a conversation.

The Palestinian flag is flying at Braybrook Community Hub, in a gesture of solidarity with the Palestinian people in the midst of Israel's ongoing genocide in Gaza.

A community demonstration has been called outside December 18th's Hume Council meeting in support of a motion by local activists calling on the council to support peace in Gaza.

Results are in for the Mulgrave by-election and we're pleased to say Victorian Socialists and our candidate Kelly Cvetkova received 3.8% of the vote - placing us fifth out of ten and first from among the minor parties.

Victorian Socialists is establishing a Palestine Action Group to bring together members and supporters who are active, or who want to get active, in the Palestine solidarity campaign.

Victorian Socialists' 2022 state election candidate Jerome Small was among a number of VS members who spoke at the Palestine solidarity rally in Melbourne on Sunday 15th October.

Victorian Socialists stand unequivocally on the side of the Palestinian people in their ongoing resistance to Israeli occupation and to the violent repression they’ve been subjected to for more than 70 years.

Due to the resignation of Daniel Andrews, a by-election will take place in the south-eastern Melbourne seat of Mulgrave. Victorian Socialists is proud to announce Kelly Cvetkova as our candidate for this election.

Congratulations and thank you to all the Victorian Socialists volunteers who helped us win 3.91% of the vote in the Warrandyte by-election - which placed us 5th out of 12 candidates.

Victorian Socialists encourages its members and supporters to vote ‘yes’ in the 14 October referendum on establishing an Indigenous Voice to Parliament.

Due to the retirement of Liberal MP Ryan Smith, a by-election will take place in the seat of Warrandyte on Saturday 26th August. Victorian Socialists is proud to announce Colleen Bolger as our candidate for this election.

May 3rd saw one of the largest strikes on any Australian campus in many years, with a rally of 1,000 or so staff and supporters at University of Melbourne. Many Victorian Socialists members have been active in this organising effort.

We need your help to achieve federal re-registration for Victorian Socialists with the Australian Electoral Commission. We need to give the AEC the name, phone number and address of 1,500 Victorian Socialists members. 

From the leafy streets of Melbourne’s inner suburbs to the outer fringes, a profit-fuelled development boom is transforming our city. 

On January 26 Victorian Socialists was proud to join tens of thousands of others in marching on Invasion Day - marking 235 years since the start of Britain’s colonial invasion and protesting the crimes that continue to be perpetrated against First Nations people.

I’ve loved being a candidate. There. I’ve said it. I love throwing people a line about billionaires or the state of the world, and seeing what those people throw back at me.

With counting for Victoria’s upper house only in its early stages, it’s clear we’ve made history – but it’s too early to tell whether our lead candidates Liz Walsh and Jerome Small will win a seat in Victoria’s Legislative Council.

More than 250 volunteers and supporters turned out on Friday 21 October to help launch VS's state election policy manifesto.

On Saturday 8th October Victorian Socialists’ candidate for the Western Metropolitan region Liz Walsh led, alongside VS supporters and other activists, a successful counter-rally against the anti-abortion ‘March for the Babies’.

On Sunday 25 October Victorian Socialists led a protest march in Sunbury, demanding an end to the toxic pollution of air, land and waterways in the western suburbs.

Victorian Socialists’ state election doorknocking campaign kicked-off in earnest in September.

On Sunday 11th September, Victorian Socialists members and supporters gathered at the Thornbury Bowls Club for the official launch of Jerome Small’s campaign for the northern metro upper house region.

On Wednesday 7 September Victorian Socialists members joined a mass rally by early childhood educators fighting for improved wages and conditions in the sector.

Victorian Socialists supporters and volunteers from the Broadmeadows, Greenvale and Kalkallo campaigns gathered at Hume City Youth Central in Broadmeadows on 28 August for a discussion on the struggle for Palestine.

Victorian Socialists has launched a campaign to keep the current Footscray Hospital site in public hands.

Over 50 Victorian Socialists supporters and volunteers from across the northern metro region gathered at Cafe Gummo in Thornbury on Tuesday 23 August for a 'politics in the pub' discussion on the housing crisis.

On Tuesday 16 August Victorian Socialists hosted a forum on 'Fighting for Refugee and Migrant Rights' at Dempster Park Hall in Sunshine.

The launch marked the beginning of more intensive campaigning in the lead up to the 26 November election.