Sarah Hathway, a former Socialist Alliance councillor in the City of Greater Geelong, will run for the seat of Corio in this year’s federal elections.
“We need community activists to present a democratic alternative to the two major parties, which are selling out working people’s rights,” Hathway said on February 15.
She said her campaign is focussed on providing real cost-of-living solutions for the growing number of people who are missing out on the basics, such as a secure home and job.
“I am sick of hearing Richard Marles, the sitting MP, talk up weapons and war, when so many people are struggling with a lack of affordable housing and rising cost of living pressures,” Hathway said.
“His focus on jobs in private weapons’ manufacturing shows how completely out of touch he is.”
Hathway criticised both major parties for committing at least $368 billion of public funds to nuclear submarines, as part of the AUKUS deal with Britain and the United States.
“The nuclear-powered submarines may never arrive, whereas we urgently need frontline services to be properly resourced.”
Hathway is known for her activism to restore and maintain public services.
As a councillor, she campaigned strongly for council to take a position supporting a lasting ceasefire in Gaza. She opposed council’s support for local arms manufacturing.
She won unanimous support for council land to be retained for social housing, instead of it being sold off to private developers.
She gave her support to community-led campaigns against the waste incinerator at Lara and the gas import terminal in Corio Bay.
Hathway is a 34-year-old social worker and unionist, and lives with her partner and daughter in Corio. She has spent more than a decade campaigning for peace, the environment and workers’ rights. Her campaign banner is: Community need, not war and greed.
The Murdoch-owned Geelong Advertiser described Hathway as “divisive”, “controversial” and a “firebrand”.
Hathway said it showed just how far removed the Murdoch media is from people’s lives, as standing up for their rights and services — against corporate greed — is what people expect their local representative to do.
[Get in touch with Sarah Hathway — Corio to help out. For more information and policies check Socialist Alliance.]