The Socialist Party is a small Marxist-Trotskyist political party in Australia affiliated with the Committee for a Workers International. The group began in 1985 as a small faction within the Australian Labor Party but left the ALP in the early 1990s when Labor and most social democratic parties internationally moved to the right. It then became known as Militant and then the Militant Socialist Organisation before becoming the Socialist Party.

The Socialist Party has lead several campaigns including an occupation of Richmond Secondary College , heroin reform and for the rights of refugees. In recent years it initiated a campaign for casual workers rights called UNITE. It has also been involved in the anti-globalisation and anti-war movements .

The Party has received high election results for socialist candidates despite its decision not to join the Socialist Alliance in 2001. In November 2004 it was sucessful in getting Stephen Jolly elected to Yarra City Council , the first socialist councillor in Melbourne for over 50 years.

The Party has branches in Melbourne, Sydney, Newcastle and Perth and supporters in all other states. It publishes a bi-monthly newspaper called The Socialist which contains a left-wing perspective on news and current issues.

External link

• Socialist Party Australia