STATEMENT FROM ALP NATIONAL PRESIDENT WAYNE SWAN
Subject: Unity Matters
History Matters.
Learning its lessons is vital for political parties and for the future of democracy. As a social democratic party Labor believes in the power of public policy to change lives.
And the most fundamental lesson of Labor’s success and failures over 133 years is that we can’t win the battle of ideas without political unity. This goes to the heart of why Caucus solidarity matters.
Since our formation, our central purpose has been to address economic injustice for working people. We learnt the lesson that without economic equality it’s even harder to pursue racial and gender equality.
In this era of hyper individualism, disinformation and the rise of the fascist right, our commitment to solidarity – that all of us have a stake in each other’s success – is more important than ever, particularly as the right tries to fan racial and gender intolerance.
In the last 50 years we have become a vibrant, multicultural society. And made significant advances for women’s rights. Our federal, state and local representation have become much more representative of our diverse communities.
This is what working together delivers.
Labor has worked hard to secure peace in the Middle East, and has consistently supported a two-state solution.
Our past achievements tell us there is simply no substitute for the power of collective action to deliver social progress domestically and internationally.
Senator Payman’s decision to place herself outside the Party can only empower Labor’s opponents on the far right and on the left who have always opposed progressive foreign, economic and environmental policy.
Yours in solidarity,
Wayne Swan
ALP National President
