More than 100 people helped launch Sue Bolton’s campaign for the seat of Wills on February 22. Bolton is a long-term Socialist Alliance (SA) Merri-Bek councillor.
Mai Saif, a leading Palestinian activist from Free Palestine Melbourne, said it is important to “recognise those who have been standing by Palestine for decades”.
Hassan Jabber, founder of the refugee-led group Justice for Refugees Victoria, highlighted Bolton’s unwavering commitment to supporting refugee rights and all those in the refugee campaign “will always support you”.
Jabber, who recently received his permanent visa, after more than 12 years, outlined the government’s abhorrent treatment of more than 9000 refugees who have yet to receive permanent visas.
Yanni Tsiavos, a trade union activist, based in Merri-bek, highlighted Bolton’s record in supporting worker’s rights. “There hasn’t been a picket where I have not seen Sue.”
Tsiavos spoke about the need to support socialist candidates over Labor, arguing its policies aim to empower the rich over working-class people are it is “very happy to attack trade unions”.
Sarah Hathway, Socialist Alliance’s candidate for Corio, condemned Labor for prioritising the manufacturing of weapons while working people are being priced out of affordable suburbs in Djilang/Geelong. Hathway is running against defence minister Richard Marles.
Jordan Van Den Lamb, the Victorian Socialist’s Senate candidate, said: “The people of Wills are very privileged to be able to vote for a socialist candidate like Sue Bolton.”
Bolton highlighted the policies SA is talking up, including housing justice, opposing privatisations and standing up for justice for the people of Gaza and the West Bank,
She made the case that voting socialist in this election is more important than ever.
“We need elected representatives that will use their platform to mobilise in defence of our rights”, Bolton said.
“Peter Khalil, the sitting MP, has been an apologist for Israel’s genocide. He has been part of a Labor government that has overseen our living standards plummet. Both major parties are failing to address working people’s needs.
“People power is the only way we can stop the billionaire class and their political representatives, Labor and Liberal, from attacking our rights on behalf of the billionaires.”
[To get involved in the Sue Bolton for Wills campaign, phone 0458 958 385 or email sueboltonforwills@socialist-alliance.org. You can donate to the campaign here.]