Episode 58: The Party Line on Labor’s leadership crisis
This episode was recorded in the aftermath of the Federal ALP conference and the coup against Jacinta Allan in Victoria, so we decided to take a deep dive into the nature of the modern ALP. But first, we cover a few headlines: the wildfires sweeping France and Spain, the escalating aggression by Israeli forces in the West Bank, the theft of Venezuelan oil revenues, and the important victory won by Indian student activists this week. We assess the contribution Sally McManus and Michele O’Neil have made to the union movement (all negative) and break down the vile sexism of Pauline Hanson’s recent comments about DV victims and single mothers.
We then look at how Labor’s decision to ditch Jacinta Allan is a desperate attempt to neutralise right-wing attacks on the Victorian government—one that can only further embolden the right. We also examine how Ben Carroll’s policies are likely to represent another conservative shift, including by going after the CFMEU (again). On a more positive note, the Socialists in Schools launched their electoral campaign yesterday, generating strong media coverage and broader community support. It’s fantastic that 13 teachers are contesting the upcoming Victorian state election for Victorian Socialists, reflecting the widespread view that our public school system needs radical change.
Finally, we assess the political significance of the ALP conference in Adelaide over the weekend, and why \"discipline\" and \"unity\" are really code for conformity and a lack of principles. In particular, what does it say when the party could not even tolerate discussion on Ed Husic’s motion to slightly increase its criticism of Israel? And we make the case that the workers’ movement desperately needs a new political voice.
Hosted by Jordan van den Lamb (@purplepingers), Anneke Demanuele and Omar Hassan. Huge thanks to our tireless editor Charlie Wardrop, our graphic designer James Plested, and our occasional content producer Charlotte Tavan.
While we will always release our material for free, please support us on patreon if you can.
Headlines
Israeli settlers set fire to mosques, cars and farm land in West Bank, Palestinians say
US has collected about $19b of Venezuela’s oil money. Where is it?
India's Cockroach Janta Party claims significant and rare victory over Modi government
Forget crypto: Single motherhood is the best get-rich-quick scheme, according to Pauline Hanson
Further reading
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This is a podcast by members of the Socialist Party in Naarm (Melbourne). We hope to bring a radical perspective to a podcast landscape dominated by insipid liberalism (looking at you, The Daily). The pod will come out weekly, and aims to breakdown news and current events from a socialist point of view. While a lot of what’s going on in the world is fairly bleak, The Party Line will try and highlight voices of resistance and struggle.
If you like what you hear, please rate, subscribe and share with your friends, colleagues and comrades. If you are in a position to support us financially then sign up at patreon.com/thepartyline.
If you find yourself agreeing with us more often than not, please join your local branch of the Socialist Party at socialists.org.au. We need your help to build a fighting socialist movement that can take on both the far right and its centrist enablers.
(The views and opinions expressed in our show are ours and ours alone, and do not reflect on the Socialist Party or Victorian Socialists.)
This pod was produced on stolen land and we stand in solidarity with our Indigenous comrades in their ongoing fight against racism and capitalism.
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