18 September 08

SJN’s results in Auburn council election: First step to build up real alternative

While the final results of the last weekend’s councils election will not be fully known for some time, there are a few early conclusions to be made.

“The Social Justice Group’s first-ever election campaign, especially in the First Ward – Auburn council, had significant impact on the results” said Jamal Daoud, the candidate for the group in that ward. “Even though the campaign did not result in election of the group’s candidate, it had impact on the other parties’ results”

The group can claim comfortably and proudly that its campaign resulted in swing against the Liberals of more than 4%. The campaign also denied a spot for the Greens candidate in this ward. These conclusions can be easily made if we remember that the Liberals and the Greens got huge swing towards their candidates in almost every council ward across the state, except Auburn – first ward.

If we add to this the high informal vote (higher than the state average and the previous election’s in the ward), we can understand the huge impact of the group’s campaign on the results.

“The group, while disappointed at the result of its candidates, understands the circumstances leading to it. The group’s candidates were subjected to very dirty tactics, especially from the party that claim to be progressive and advocating for “clean politics”. These tactics involved spreading racial and sectarian division in the community” said Mr Daoud. “In addition, the group’s lead candidate is very new to the area, and the campaign operated on a very tight budget”

The group emerged from the campaign more insistent on campaigning for their agenda and platform. The growing residents’ support gives the group more determination to continue the campaign for a better Australia.

The group is assessing its future campaign options. This include gathering momentum to form wide-ranging allies with members of marginalised communities to form a political coalition to work towards real multiculturalism and better representation of marginalised people in decision-making bodies.

The group would like to mention the lack of any political campaign by ALL other political parties. These parties were happy to conduct apolitical campaigns based on cleaning streets and stopping high rise building. The SJG was the only group talking about politics and socio-economic changes to society. By doing this, ALL other political parties were just avoiding community accountability to their earlier promises.

The group will keep up the campaign for a better Australia, through working towards real multiculturalism and better sharing of power and control, especially in key decision making bodies.

For more info, you can contact Jamal Daoud on 0424 163 667