By David Glanz, Aston by-election campaign manager
"Scrap the GST vote Socialist Alliance!" That's the message SA supporters have been taking to the streets of Aston for the past six weeks.
The Aston federal by-election on July 14 is our first campaign and we've hit the ground running.
Nearly 70 supporters have letterboxed almost every home in the outer-eastern Melbourne electorate and campaigned in every major shopping centre.
A good crowd joined a lively rally against the GST outside the Liberal campaign office on June 30.
And we're hoping that even more supporters will turn out on July 14, allowing us to cover the 32 polling booths from go to whoa.
Our candidate is Josephine Cox, a 25-year-old student from Dandenong North.
"Growing up in this area, I understand that working class families are doing it tough", she said.
"Too many people are worried about losing their jobs or about getting by with casual work.
"People are really keen to get rid of the Liberals, and Labor needs just a 4 per cent swing to take Aston.
"But there's no enthusiasm for what Labor has to offer. That's why we'll be out there offering an alternative.
"With the by-election coming just before the first anniversary of the GST, we've put a major emphasis on calling for the tax to be scrapped and for the rich to pay much more.
"It's really struck a nerve. This tax is hated!
"We've also been campaigning in defence of jobs, in favour of public transport rather than the proposed $1 billion Scoresby Freeway, and for a massive boost for state education."
While the daily papers and electronic media have ignored the campaign, the alliance has been getting good coverage in the two local papers.
They've run stories on Cox's nomination, her attack on job losses at Johnson Tiles in Bayswater, and on our GST rally and public meeting.
But Cox and the newly formed local Socialist Alliance branch haven't been relying on the media. Cox has been taking the campaign directly to local people.
She campaigned at the Wantirna TAFE campus on the day that five student unions launched a united push for better public transport.
And she also spoke up for more trains, trams and buses at a 200-strong meeting called by the Public Transport Users Association in Rowville.
Only four candidates were invited to speak from the platform, but Cox got loud applause when she spoke from the floor, pledging the Socialist Alliance's support for a massive boost for public transport.
Despite its leafy appearance, Aston is home to a large part of Melbourne's manufacturing base.
The Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) is campaigning against job losses in the area.
Accompanied by an AMWU organiser and a shop steward, Cox took to the shop floor at Creeks Metal Industries in Bayswater.
Her message that the Socialist Alliance wanted to scrap the GST and the anti-union Workplace Relations Act won plenty of smiles.
Next it was on to Johnson Tiles, also in Bayswater, where only that morning electricians and AMWU members had set up a picket line.
Cox promised the Socialist Alliance's support for a fightback and was well received by the pickets.
Aston is anything but traditional territory for the left and the campaign has been an enormous learning curve.
But locals have been open to hearing a socialist alternative to economic rationalism and our supporters have shown plenty of enthusiasm.