BY GRANT COLEMAN
PERTH — The Western Australian Liberal government has called a snap state election for February 10. The Democratic Socialists will be running Anthony Benbow in the seat of Fremantle and Roberto Jorquera in seat of Perth.
The ALP must win 11 seats to dislodge the government of Premier Richard Court. The election is likely to be a very close contest, reflecting the similarity of the two major parties' policies.
Questions have been raised about the major parties' attitudes towards Pauline Hanson's One Nation party. Court initially stated that One Nation was no longer a racist party and that its policies had been distorted. Public pressure forced Court to retract his statement, however the Liberals have refused to rule out a preference swap with One Nation.
It have also been rumours that three ALP candidates have approached One Nation for preference deals.
Anthony Benbow told Green Left Weekly that the Democratic Socialists believe that "all candidates should put One Nation at the bottom of their preferences. We need an alternative that is based on real solutions and not racist scapegoating and wedge politics."
The Democratic Socialists will be targetting corporate control of government, said Benbow. "The Court Liberal government has on numerous occasions provided direct public funding to private corporations to insure that their investments are profitable. This government is a government that represents the interest and aspirations of the corporate rich."
Benbow argued that working people need a government that prioritise funding for education and health and ends handouts to big business such as those that helped build the Bell Tower and the new convention centre.
Jorquera disputed the state government's claim that it stood for improving the lot of people living in the bush. "The Liberals' have done nothing to stop the closing down of banks and other social services in the country areas. There is an urgent need to reprioritise government spending so that basic social services are maintained in all regional areas", Jorquera told Green Left Weekly.