Political Correspondence

1. What do you make of the Green and Teal ‘wave’ in 2022 federal election? 2. Which of the 7 deadly sins would you attribute to your party? 3. ‘Unfollow me if you voted X’ – Is it a valid sentiment or is it just virtue-signalling?

LEFT Socialist Alternative

1. It’s no surprise that voters took one look at the kind of ‘opposition’ that the Labor party ofered to the crisis-ridden Liberals, and voted for Greens and Independents instead. Te ALP came to the election with a small target strategy, banking their success on the fact that they weren’t headed by Scomo. In a time of rising infation, war, and rapidly advancing climate disasters, the ALP ofer nothing to get behind. Labor come to the election committed to handing out tax cuts to the rich, reducing already inadequate emissions reductions targets and turning their backs on refugees. Te Greens came to the election with more lef-wing, social democratic demands. Taxing billionaires to fund things like public health and abolishing student debt had a clear resonance with young inner-city voters. However, what the Greens say and what they do once they’re in is a diferent story. Tere is nothing progressive about the Teal’s approach to tackling climate change. Tere is no mention from them about the drive for proft being the source of climate disasters. Instead, they look to market solutions like green-washing as the solution. 2. Wrath. It is hard to face a system where 10% of the global population own 76% of all wealth and not feel rageful. It’s even harder to face the fat that this same minoirty don’t just passively sit o this pile of wealth, but they rob, steal, and kill to keep growing it. Our planet is being cooked alive by fossil fuel bosses. Every second it feels like the brink of war will breach, the lives of millions dangled in the balance so the rich can fght over trade routes and resources. But resources only mean anything to them in so far as they can make them richer. If food cannot be sold, it’s lef to rot. Meanwhile, the rest of us languish, working all our lives to survive while the bosses kick back and watch the cash roll in. It’s right to feel wrathful, but that wrath can be cultivated. We can use it to fght this rotten ssytem and build a new world based on collaboration and human need. Be wrathful, fght capitalism 3. While social media is important for spreading political ideas, it can be a problem when social movements see it as the main arena of debate. Sometimes, it seems the best course of action we can take is convincing our followers of a certain point of view and blocking out opposing opinions. Tis might win some over, but ofen the most important arena of political contestation is social movements on the ground and grassroots campaigning. For example, about 5 years ago, in Victoria, the Campaign Against Racism and Facisim was formed to combat the right-wing Reclaim Australia movement. Social media helped spready the word, but the reason that Reclaim don’t mobilise is because there was a real countermovement that was organised, they took the fght to the streets and one. Tis is the strategy that we need to fght conservative forces.

CENTRE Student Unity 1. Tis election showed one thing - people are sick of the same old Liberal Party and want action on climate, more transparency and a government that respects women. Currently the Liberals are fghting over either being more conservative (because somehow that will win votes) or being more liberal. Te Greens and Teal Independents have many crossovers especially in policies mentioned above. Both of these groups have good strong approach towards youth, demonstrated via their policies and their youth wings (Greens with Young Greens to an independent Zoe Daniel’s Generation Zoe). Queensland was a big win for the Greens, in the cities. While not all Teals are in the cities, so it’s a sign - the environment and climate is a concern across the country. 2. Sadly, the reality is that no party is perfect, and almost all organisations will have people that embody all of the 7 deadly sins. To sit back and say my party is the best and doesn’t have any of those attributes is unrealistic. Te 7 deadly sins are human behaviour. All Ideologies have their faws. However, the ideas of our party are not sins but virtues. For example, unions aim for the bettering Australians’ lives by improving working conditions, increasing pay, and guaranteeing workers’ rights. Labor Unity believes in Social Democracy. We believe that Social Justice and Democracy has us forward and will continue to move us forward. Afer his dismissal, Prime Minister Gough Whitlam, said “Maintain your rage and enthusiasm for the campaign for the election now to be held and until polling day.” Hold onto your wrath at injustice, use it for good and the ballot box. 3. We live in a social democratic free society with a secret ballot. You don’t have to tell them who you voted, nor should you be pressured in telling who you voted for. Tat person does have the freedom to unfollow you on social media, but who cares. It’s your right to keep your ballot secret. We are blessed to have preferential voting in this country, so technically you will be voting for all parties (but your last one) on the green ballot.

RIGHT Flinders Liberal Club 1. In relation to our party, the Teal wave was a signifcant loss of votes for Liberal, however this atomisation of the party gives us the opportunity to double down on our values going forwards, and act with greater consistency with regards to the principles of the party.

2. Pride might be ftting as we are inarguably the more individualist of the major parties, however lust would also ft as we are particularly good looking.

3. No. Eliminating everyone from your life who doesn’t share your exact opinion is such a bad idea it almost doesn’t require elaboration. If you never hear anything to challenge your views, you will never be able to develop arguments and convictions for what you believe in and value.