[–] 1 point 4 days ago

No :( And when you consider that the only changes currently permitted are the ones that don't mess with the real power behind the throne (the über-wealthy), the answer is extra no.

I am a bit of a broken record on this, but there can never be democracy that won't backslide while we continue with capitalism.

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  • [–] 3 points 5 days ago

    Not all of the various agreements are released yet (some have already been finalised, others are only in principle agreements), but they'll be here when they are: https://www.fwc.gov.au/document-search?search-ui=agreements

    Blame the government, in cases where workers are on strike, I'm willing to bet 95% of the time, it's the employers being shitty.

    Don't blame your fellow workers, blame those in power.

    Striking (even the very limited times were allowed to under laws brought in by the Labor party in the 80s) is one of the few ways working people can exercise power to get a fairer deal under capitalism.

    Some context, but not very detailed: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2026-08-18/queensland-rail-reaches-deal-with-train-controllers/107051822

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  • [–] 2 points 5 days ago

    I have joined The Greens because it seems to be the only Left political voice in parliament and I can't see a revolution happening quite yet.

    Yeah fair enough, I'm glad to see all left groups growing. Good on ya for getting involved.

    And as always I'm of the opinion groups should work together on topics where they agree, and I do see that happening on a number of occasions at protests/rallies that the Socialists and the Greens go to, which I think is great!

    There was a socialist group in the area I used to live in Sydney but they seemed to be so formulaic in their communication, it sounded (to me) like they were in the early twentieth century. If you can't connect on a human level then spouting in-group speak is not going to attract people.

    Yeah this is annoying. I agree with you, personally I think (and is the main focus of VS policy) we're most effective in our communication when we focus on the problems of today, and identify why they are (i.e. housing crisis, cost of living, etc is primarily so bad because of all the profit seeking and that's a feature of capitalism).

    There are all sorts of people identifying as socialist out there. There's even some people (luckily not visibly part of our party) who think China is socialist and to be emulated, which most in VS think is absurd.

    "Left infighting" exists because "the Left" really is not a monolith haha, I really can't reconcile with people who think that Mao and Stalin were top blokes lol. We'll just show up to the same actions from time to time where our goals align

    All the best with your launch mate :)

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  • [–] 1 point 5 days ago (2 children)

    This is a little rude to me to be honest.

    I'm not a member of SAlt, and just because you don't like them, doesn't mean this is remotely close to the truth: "if being lectured about Trotskyism by a Melbourne Uni student who is larping as a dangerous radical before going off to work for daddy's law firm is your thing"

    repeatedly turning up to rallies like the Invasion Day march, where the organisers have specifically asked political organisations not to do any campaigning,

    Yeah that sounds kinda shitty if true, can agree, though I couldn't verify this was specifically asked based on event information posted on various websites by the organisers.

    Look, you don't have to like SAlt, but I kinda think it's a bit over the top to extend that dislike to people part of Victorian Socialists simply by association.

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  • [–] 2 points 6 days ago (6 children)

    I'm not a member of SAlt, but the people I've met are very dedicated and very well-read. It's not like they're just regurgitating something they've been told to say.

    I think they sometimes can come across a bit stronger than people are used to, mostly out of a genuine desire to win you to a socialist point of view.

    I've personally had no reason to dislike them, and all of the criticism I've seen so far hasn't really made sense to me (from a socialist perspective, I obviously know why One Nation voters wouldn't like them, lol)

    I'm just not part of them because the requirements (mostly regarding time commitment and membership dues) from members is a bit more than I'm currently willing to do.

    I'm happy in VS (Victorian Socialists) and happy to have them around in VS.

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  • [–] 2 points 6 days ago

    Yeah I hope the Greens do well at expense of the major parties, since I want to see politics move leftward. Just that I don't like how top-down the party is in structure (regarding how leadership is decided, and how policy is formed), and that they're not anti-capitalists.

    I just don't fit the niche they are trying to steer the party in

    May I ask what direction that is, by the way? I'm not a Socialist Alternative member, and they don't even represent a majority of the membership, it's just they're the most dedicated members and hence show up more than the average member.

    From what I can tell, they're a revolutionary organisation, making the argument that reforming our way to socialism is impossible, and I agree with them on that.

    Even if we have socialists (be that from Aus Socialists, the Greens if they go further left, or whoever) representing more than 50% of Parliament, does anyone seriously believe the ruling class is going to let us usher in socialism?

    They couped Gough Whitlam for far less.

    In the average Australian Socialist (the party, I can't speak for "socialists" who are part of micro-parties) believes that the only way we can get to socialism is by mass democratic action, that is, building a movement, making the arguments to everyone and winning enough people over that the current system needs to be replaced. And then going and doing that outside of Parliament (i.e. a revolution), so that we can set up more democratic bodies, and decentralise decision making.

    Contesting parliamentary elections is just one way we get our message out.

    I think Johnny Harris' (certainly not a socialist) video on democracy actually sums things up fairly well. The ruling class only let us make decisions that not affect the status quo: https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=O7LvhSQ5Te4

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  • [–] 5 points 1 week ago

    Can't sleep. But sometimes, ya just gotta get up the same time the next day, and just relax into the tiredness, get a good night sleep the next night.

    Is what I tell myself.

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    (open to non-members)

    From the event page:

    Join us next month for our upcoming series of Volunteer-Member meetings. This is a good opportunity to connect with like-minded transport enthusiasts, find opportunities to volunteer with the PTUA, and hear from speakers in the transport and urbanism space.

    For our upcoming meeting in August, we are glad to have Peter Parker from Melbourne On Transit. Peter is a former transport planner and has written extensively on the network planning, timetable coordination and transport routes in Melbourne. We hope to see you for a night of good discussion over light snacks and refreshments

     

    (open to non-members)

    From the event page:

    6 Aug 2026 6:00 PM - 7:30 PM

    Join us next month for our upcoming series of Volunteer-Member meetings. This is a good opportunity to connect with like-minded transport enthusiasts, find opportunities to volunteer with the PTUA, and hear from speakers in the transport and urbanism space.

    For our upcoming meeting in August, we are glad to have Peter Parker from Melbourne On Transit. Peter is a former transport planner and has written extensively on the network planning, timetable coordination and transport routes in Melbourne. We hope to see you for a night of good discussion over light snacks and refreshments

     

    cross-posted from: https://aussie.zone/post/33395211

    * provided you have decently well functioning public service, and it's not a country with high levels of corruption.

    I hold the belief that things being equal there is almost no situation in which privatisation of public services has ever been a positive for the average person.

    However, I'm keen to hear arguments, examples or studies where privatisation has gone well [1], and has been a net positive to society, and could not have been performed by the government.

    I don't believe there are such examples, and I believe (with too many real world examples to list) that privatisation always leads to enshittification and budget blow outs eventually because private companies exist to maximise profits.

    This community (!aussocialism@aussie.zone) does not delete comments that disagree with socialism, so you're very much encouraged to share your views respectfully.

    [1] for countries that have some level of democracy at that point in history i.e. I'm not really interested in the example of China becoming capitalist, 1. because Chinese "socialism" was never control of society by the workers, and was (and still is) a top-down hierarchical dictatorship - which had a ruling class determined by party position, and now also determined by wealth. No wonder that things were being run so poorly before they decided to be capitalist. Dictatorships don't usually breed very good conditions for sensible management. 2. They still have most core government services being administered by government departments.

     

    Federal government to contribute nearly $4b extra to Victoria's Suburban Rail Loop

    How do we all feel about the SRL?

    Personally, I don't hate it, but feel like money could have been better spent on numerous cheaper projects (like tram/train extentions for interconnectivity, or massively increasing bus frequencies and rationalising bus routes).

    But I'm glad for any money to be spent on better public transport, and not more roads.

     

    How do we all feel about the SRL?

    Personally, I don't hate it, but feel like money could have been better spent on numerous cheaper projects (like tram/train extentions for interconnectivity, or massively increasing bus frequencies and rationalising bus routes).

    But I'm glad for any money to be spent on better public transport, and not more roads.

    X-Posted to c/Melbourne

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