Morris Iemma's calculatedly boring "I'm-so-predictable-so-vote-for-me" campaign has virtually put NSW to sleep. More than ever before, interest in the NSW state elections has dwindled to the point where even the Fairfax-owned Sydney Morning Herald is desperately trying to generate interest by running the hapless opposition's election campaign for it.
We've been treated to front page stories on toxic waste sites, the chaos of public transport and ministerial rorts, and NSW Labor is still out in front.
Given that both major parties have failed to come up with anything to excite anyone, let alone real solutions to climate change, cutting hospital waiting times, reducing class sizes, nor a plan to fix the state's ailing infrastructure, it's no wonder young people are turned off "politics".
Now more than ever, we need protest parties, like the Socialist Alliance, that are prepared to put up an alternative vision, and that are also involved in the struggles of the day. The campaign against the draconian NSW supported-"anti-terror" laws that limit our rights to speak out, the campaign for Indigenous rights that give communities real decision-making powers, and the struggle for accountability and responsibility in government are just some critical issues that the Socialist Alliance has been raising in this election campaign.
Resistance, the socialist youth organisation, is supporting Socialist Alliance in this campaign because we think it is giving a real voice to what young people think about what's needed to change the world. We also agree that to build the left movement, alliances have to be forged between people in struggle, and this is what the Socialist Alliance is doing.
The Socialist Alliance will be fielding a number of young people as candidates — people who bring a fresh approach to the campaigns.
Rapper JakaleneX, Indigenous rights activist and upper house candidate for the Socialist Alliance, believes that the Socialist Alliance has been central to helping build support for Indigenous rights. She said that the Socialist Alliance's involvement with the TJ Hickey campaign and International Women's Day had encouraged young people, and importantly young Indigenous people, to become more confident about speaking out. "I encourage young people to get up, stand up, and voice their opinions", she said.
Resistance will be getting behind the Socialist Alliance election campaign, but we, like the alliance, won't be stopping when the polls close at 6pm on March 24. Resistance will be continuing to campaign in the streets and across the campuses, and do our best to link up with others in action, and we'd urge you to join us!