About

Victorian Socialists (VS) was formed in 2018 to bring together people who want to provide a real alternative to the broken status quo of Victorian politics. Since then we’ve grown significantly, and have expanded across Australia - forming socialist parties on the model of VS in every state and territory.

Whether it’s rising inequality, declining social services, climate catastrophe or the threat of war, we think all the major problems our society faces have the same root cause: a capitalist system that prioritises the profits and power of a minority over the needs of the many.

No mainstream political party in Australia is willing to point out this reality. Labor’s commitment to being efficient managers of capitalism means they have repeatedly betrayed workers - privatising our services while overseeing falling wages and widening inequality. The Liberals and One Nation offer only more inequality topped off with poisonous racist scapegoating.

The Greens want progressive reforms within the system, but their belief in a nicer, more humane version of capitalism is fundamentally misguided. 21st-century capitalism is only getting nastier and more unequal. The multiplying and deepening crises of capitalism cannot be addressed through a bit of tinkering here and there.

Victorian Socialists have a vision that is radically different to all the pro-capitalist parties: we’re fighting for a world run by and for working-class people, one where our interests are prioritised over the profit-seeking of the billionaires and big corporations. That’s why one of our main slogans is ‘people before profit’!

We want to reverse privatisation, fully fund public services, and make housing a human right. In such a wealthy society, nobody should struggle to put food on the table, a roof over their head, or keep the heating and lights on.

But socialism is about more than improved public services and infrastructure. Fundamentally, socialism is about a radical redistribution of wealth and power - from capitalists to workers.

We think that the workers who make everything run, from the transport system to warehouses to our hospitals, should be the ones calling the shots. We are for a democratic, socialised economy which abolishes the profit motive and allocates work and resources based on human need.

Fighting for this will take building a powerful movement - one that can challenge the political and ideological institutions of the capitalist ruling class - from their control over industry, to the media, to the political parties that act as their loyal servants.

That’s why running in elections and fighting to elect socialist representatives is only one important part of our project. We’re active day-in, day-out building rank-and-file resistance in our trade unions, in Palestine solidarity and the climate movement, and in local community campaigns.

We don’t have the money and influence of the capitalist parties. But we already have thousands of people determined to fight for a better, fairer world on our side.

If you agree with our vision, you should join us.