Socialist Alliance (Australia)

Socialist Alliance
Founded	2001
Website
https://socialist-alliance.org
Twitter	@https://twitter.com/socialistallnce
YouTube channel	https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC4AmNKHRl5VWnVjj-GeC9Iw
Facebook	https://www.facebook.com/SocialistAlliance
Instagram	@https://www.instagram.com/socialistallianceoz

Socialist Alliance is a political party in Australia advocating for socialist and progressive policies. Committed to social justice, environmental sustainability, and working-class representation, the party operates as a broad left-wing coalition encompassing various socialist and activist groups. With a presence in electoral processes, the Socialist Alliance seeks to address inequality, resist capitalist exploitation, and advance the interests of the working class.

Elections

The Socialist Alliance, as a recognized political party actively engaging in electoral processes, has a secured three local council positions: Sarah Hathway represents the City of Greater Geelong in Victoria, Sue Bolton serves in Merri-bek, Melbourne, Victoria, and Rob Pyne holds a position in Cairns, Queensland.

Policy

Taxation

Socialist Aliiance's proposed taxation policy advocates for a comprehensive overhaul of Australia's tax system, emphasizing fairness and progressive taxation. Key measures include the elimination of the Goods and Services Tax (GST), the establishment of a steeply progressive income tax system, and a notable increase in the top marginal tax rate to 70% for incomes exceeding $200,000. To prevent "bracket creep," the policy suggests indexing tax brackets to inflation. Other proposals involve repealing tax cuts for the affluent, introducing a wealth tax for the super-rich, and implementing an immediate rise in the company tax rate to 49%, accompanied by an additional super-profits tax. The plan prioritizes tax compliance by removing loopholes and enhancing resources for the Australian Taxation Office (ATO). Further changes include ending negative gearing tax breaks, discontinuing public subsidies to corporations, and abolishing the Medicare levy in favor of funding a universal health system from general revenue. Overall, the policy aims to create a fairer and more sustainable tax framework in Australia.

Public ownership

The Socialist Alliance policy on public ownership advocates for the nationalization of key industries, including mines, banks, and energy companies, placing them under community and workers' control. It strongly opposes and aims to reverse the privatization of public assets and services. Additionally, the policy supports government assistance in the establishment and sustenance of worker cooperatives, emphasizing a commitment to a more collectively owned and managed economic landscape.

Climate

Their climate policy proposes a strategic transition to 100% renewable energy within 5-10 years through public investment and emission reduction targets. It advocates for bringing power industries under public ownership and democratic control, along with a commitment to phasing out fossil fuels, including a ban on new coal or gas projects such as Adani, and prohibiting fracking and unconventional gas mining. The policy ensures job security and no loss in pay for workers in fossil fuel industries while ending all subsidies for fossil fuels. It extends asylum for climate refugees and those displaced by climate change, bans logging in old-growth forests, and initiates urgent programs for reforestation, sustainable farming, and biodiversity protection. Indigenous rangers play a key role in leading these efforts, which also include enforcing the rehabilitation of mine sites by companies. The policy establishes a national heat health strategy and categorically rejects nuclear energy, nuclear weapons, and uranium mining.