BY ANDY GIANNIOTIS
HOBART — Two green left parties are contesting the Tasmanian state elections to be held here on July 20. Both launched their campaigns in the week following the close of nominations.
The Socialist Alliance launched its campaign on July 6 at the Salamanca lawns. Sixty enthusiastic people participated in the launch, celebrating the start of the state's biggest-ever socialist election campaign. Amidst a sea of red flags, t-shirts and bandanas, candidates spoke from the back of a red ute of the sacrifices working people had made to win basic democratic rights.
Socialist candidates for the seat of Franklin, timber retail worker Brian Millar and forest campaigner Glenn Shields, spoke of the importance of both protecting the environment and creating jobs. Millar argued that decreasing the work week with no loss in pay would enable existing jobs to be shared around.
Denison Socialist Alliance candidates Alex Bainbridge and Shua Garfield called for Tasmania to be a refugee safe haven. Kamal Emanuel, Socialist Alliance candidate for bass, also called for the nationalisation of the insurance industry, the complete removal of abortion from the criminal code and for free abortion services to be expanded in the north and south of the state.
The crowd enjoyed Peter Hicks playing his new song "Our world is not for sale" and greeted with enthusiasm the launch of the Alliance's television ad, which features socialist activists outlining the alliance's ideas and the campaign slogan, "for the millions, not the millionaires".
The candidates emphasised the importance of grass-roots community campaigns, like the anti-Southwood woodchip mill campaign and the campaign in solidarity with refugees, to bring about real social change. "We want you to vote for us", Bainbridge explained, "because a vote for socialists registers your opposition to this profit-driven system. Don't just vote for us: join us in the struggle for a better world."
The Greens launched their campaign at the Elizabeth Street Pier, to a packed room of 200 supporters. Federal senator Bob Brown introduced the lead candidates for each electorate — Kim Booth for Bass, Paul O'Halloran for Braddon, Nick McKim for Franklin, Tim Morris for Lyons, and incumbent Peg Putt for Denison.
Booth, a sawmiller who employs 30 people, advocated a restructuring of the timber industry, opposing the "war on nature" currently being waged by the "woodchip industry" which acts as the major recipients of Tasmania's "bounty". He pointed out that this industry has made campaign donations to Labor and Liberal since 1993 of over $3 million.
Putt called for justice for refugees and Indigenous people, also emphsising adequate funding for health and education.
In contrast to the approach of the Socialist Alliance, Morris told the forum: "Tell them the world won't end if the Greens get another few members into parliament. In fact, for the first few weeks, they won't even notice the difference."
Brown closed the launch by saying: "So if you want to make a difference, vote Green."
From Green Left Weekly, July 17, 2002.
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