Conference in Sydney forms new Left party

Press, 1 August 1989, Page 9

Conference in Sydney forms new Left party

NZPA-A AP Sydney

A new national Leftwing political party was launched in Sydney on Sunday with promises to “truly represent” the community. The launch followed a two-day conference at the University of Technology, Sydney, where 400 tradeunion and environmentalist delegates voted to form a new socialist party.

A spokesman for the New Left Party (N.L.P.), Tom McDonald, president of the Federal Building Worker and Federated Engine Drivers Union, said many people had called for a new Left

party during the 1980 s as the Australian Labour Party (A.L.P.) had veered right. “A lot of people are dissatisfied with the Labour Party and are concerned about living standards and the quality of life,” said Mr McDonald. “In the Australian community there is a tremendous support for a more just society with equal opportunities for people.”

Mr McDonald said the new party could fill this vacuum with, its firm commitments to social justice, democracy, the protection of the environment,

women’s rights, Aboriginal rights, nuclear disarmament and the development of the public sector.

He said over the next eight months party members would work on a draft constitution and a name for the party, to be ready for a founding conference at Easter.

The idea of setting up a new Left-wing party was prompted a few years ago when a group of Left activists drafted a document called "Time To Act,” stating the general aims and principles in the formation of a new party. Those who signed the document were the people involved in the week-end .conference.