This is what the "free market" results in when tied to healthcare.

Abolish Medicare and private health, let's do fully public health please.

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.

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

Ah righto, misunderstanding ony part. Appreciate the clarification

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 :)

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.

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.

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

I just can't help myself, even though I'm not a member of the Greens, and would prefer anti-capitalists to come join the Socialists instead, here's the link that I searched for ya haha

https://my.greens.org.au/civicrm/event/register?id=26088

Morning mate!

The 4 hands one is pretty cool

I don't think you're mistaken. Jess Wilson has promised to crack down on pro-palestine protests if elected, making it illegal without a permit.

They're all moving in lockstep