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.
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 John Faulkner.
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.
Current Members of the Socialist Left
Kate Lundy
Anthony Albanese, George Campbell, John Faulkner, Laurie Ferguson, Jenny George , Shannon Grierson , Jim Hall, Daryl Melham, Julie Owens , Tanya Plibersek
Patricia Crossin , Warren Snowdon
Kirsten Livermore, Jan McLucas , Claire Moore
Nick Bolkus, Linda Kirk , Steve Georganas , Penny Wong
Dick Adams, Duncan Kerr, Kerry O'Brien , Sue Mackay
Kim Carr, Alan Griffin, Steve Gibbons, Catherine King, Harry Jenkins, Jenny Macklin, Gavin Marshall , Maria Vamvakinou
Chris Evans , Carmen Lawrence, Kim Wilkie
Last updated: 05-21-2005 01:56:02