Relative newcomers to the state political scene, the Victorian Socialists, have been ramping up their campaign efforts in the lead up to 2022’s federal election.
While still sitting firmly in the camp of minority party, their volunteers are hopeful that by laying the groundwork by means of an all hands on deck approach to community engagement, they might just be setting themselves up for a surprisingly strong result in Victoria’s upcoming state vote.
On High Street in the suburb of Thornbury, just outside a Salvation Army hall where pre-polling efforts were in full swing, Victorian Socialists volunteers were in full force.
Chris H, a Thornbury local, thinks the party might make a difference this year.
“This federal election campaign for Victorian Socialists is a bit different from the last one, the last we ran in four seats but now we’re running in 11, so it’s quite a bit more ambitious.”
They see the current campaign as a warmup prior to the big event, when Victoria goes to vote on November 26th.
Jaan Schild, another volunteer for the Victorian Socialists says this is the time for them to talk about what they stand for.
“Actually just completed letterboxing and door knocking the entirety of the Cooper electorate, tens of thousands of homes, and tens of thousands of people spoken to about socialist politics.”
“All this work we’re doing right now for the federal election, all the hours we’re putting into campaigning, volunteering and just speaking to people about socialist politics is that it will put us in good spot to make a real impact and get the first Victorian Socialist senator elected in the state parliament in Victoria later this year.”
Modest expectations from a modest political movement, and while they may be in among the smaller players politically speaking in 2022, with an impassioned supported base and donning the mantle of a seriously left-wing alternative to the status quo, they’re certainly worth keeping an eye on in the coming years.
