MEDIA RELEASE Socialist Alliance - Victorian branch May 11, 2001 Socialist Alliance to contest Aston The newly formed Socialist Alliance today announced that it will stand its first candidate, in the Aston by-election expected to be held next month. The Socialist Alliance has been formed to fight economic rationalism and every aspect of the free market right-wing agenda. "In Aston, we will be campaigning on the question of jobs. The Arnotts closure is just the latest scandal created by corporations that put mega-profits before employment and the community," said alliance spokesperson David Glanz. "We will be calling for a shorter working week without loss of pay to share the work, nationalisation of companies that abandon their workers, and we will be supporting any group of workers taking industrial action to save their jobs." The Socialist Alliance will also be campaigning against federal funding for the proposed Scoresby freeway and for a massive expansion of public transport. "We want to see the Liberals lose Aston with extreme prejudice," said David Glanz. "But many people feel that Labor is not offering a genuine alternative to economic rationalism and the government's racist stance on indigenous people and refugees. "In Aston, there will be a united left alternative on offer for the first time. People will be able to vote for scrapping the GST and taxing the rich, and for switching public funds from the Scotch Colleges of this world to public education." * For more information contact David Glanz on 9386 4815 or 0418 316 310. **************************************************************************** Nine socialist organisations and many individual activists have formed the Socialist Alliance to contest the next federal election. Supporters include Craig Johnston, Victorian state branch secretary of the AMWU, Melbourne University academic Verity Burgmann, comedian Rod Quantock, union and environmental activist Jack Mundey, Victorian Fairwear organiser Annie Delaney and Victorian Trades Hall women's and equity officer Ellen Kleimaker. The alliance will stand in every state and territory. For more details, visit www.socialist-alliance.org **************************************************************************** -- Leftlink - Australia's Broad Left Mailing List mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Archived at http://www.cat.org.au/lists/leftlink/ Sponsored by Melbourne's New International Bookshop Subscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=subscribe%20leftlink Unsubscribe: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]?Body=unsubscribe%20leftlink