Socialist Left

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This article is about the Australian party faction, for the Norwegian political party, see Socialist Left Party

The Socialist Left faction of the Australian Labor Party (the Left) is an organised political faction that advocates within the party for traditionally Labor interventionist and socialist economic policies. However, since the party reforms by Gough Whitlam in the 1970s, the Left has also been the principal champion in the party of socially liberal values, such as women's rights, gay rights, reconciliation with Aboriginal Australians and Land Rights. It advocates an independent foreign policy, which would involve thorough discussion between Australia and the United States of the alliance.

History of the Socialist Left faction

Historically, the name "Socialist Left" was first adopted by the left-wing of the Victorian Branch of the Australian Labor Party. It is a truncation of the full faction's name, the Combined Unions Socialist Left. The formation occurred after intervention by the Federal Executive of the party into the Victorian branch resulting in the sacking of its elected officers and dissolution of the branch in 1970.

The NSW 'Steering Committee', later to take on the name 'Socialist Left' was initially formed in 1955 in response to the anti-communist campaigns by the 'Groupers' led by B.A. Santamaria. The Industrial Groups of the ALP existed to counter Communist Party of Australia activities within trade unions. In 1955, the majority of the branches and members of the Victorian branch were expelled with similar moves occurring in other states, although to a much lesser extent in New South Wales.

Federal party leader Gough Whitlam sought to use the intervention to modernise the Victorian branch and increase its chances of electoral success. Some have argued that this was a move to decrease the influence of the left-wing Victorian branch. This second point has been one of considerable contention with subsequent electoral results in Victoria being inconclusive.

The dismissed officers included Secretary Bill Hartley, Assistant Secretary Glyde Butler, President George Crawford and Organiser Bob Hogg. In response to their dismissal, Hartley and Crawford formed the Socialist Left as a rank and file organisation to propagate socialist views within the Australian Labor Party. It published a fortnightly newspaper called "Action" that coverred union, community and internal party matters. The faction emerged from intervention as the largest faction with strong discipline and a program of monthly general mass meetings.

The faction also drew considerable support from the trade union movement, especially from figures such as Ken Carr and Jim Roulston. Incidentally, George Crawford was also a prominent leader in the Plumbers and Gasfitters Employees' Union. The faction's membership included several notable members of state and federal parliament. They include Joan Coxsedge, Dr Harry Jenkins, George Crawford, Jean McLean, Moss Cass, Bill Brown, Gerry Hand, Brian Howe, Andrew Theophanous, Barney Cooney, Kim Carr and Joan Kirner. Founding faction chairman, Bill Hartley was expelled from the Australian Labor Party in 1986, despite being regularly elected to Federal Executive and the National Conference of the ALP.

The Left is currently the smaller of the two main factions in the federal Caucus, having a total of 38 MP's. Key members of the Left include Deputy Leader Jenny Macklin and Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Chris Evans.

Federally, the Left is split internally between the "hard" left who promote a more confrontational and aggressive stance towards the dominant Labor Right faction, and the "soft" left who are more prepared to be more conciliatory and work with certain members of the Right.

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