The Labor Machine Sucks the Life-Blood from the True Believer Heartland – the Western Suburbs

posted by Sean Spencer on Tuesday, August 4th 2009

After decades of safe seats and big margins, you could be forgiven for thinking that that rusted-on ALP voters in the Western Suburbs of Melbourne have had their loyalty rewarded by infrastructure investment and service access that rival the leafy East. You’d be forgiven for thinking it, but you would be wrong.

Decades of Labor in Melbourne’s West have left loyal voters as generally disadvantaged. Brimbank, for example, which includes working class suburbs such as Sunshine, Albion, St Albans and Deer Park have been effectively left to rot.  Brimbank has the highest gambling losses of any Melbourne municipality, higher than average unemployment and crumbling infrastructure. Schools have been run into the ground, public transport rivals the worst services in Melbourne, open space has been sold off and the absence of walking and cycling paths is clearly linked back to the terrible health status of the community. The Ombudsman’s report into this notorious council details allegations of undue influence by unelected ALP warlords, ethnic branch-stacking and political patronage. But it doesn’t end there.

The State seat of Footscray has been held by Labor for more than 80 years. So, do the suburbs that fall under this ALP representation enjoy comparable facilities and services with other areas? No. In fact, the opposite is true. Footscray station remains an outdated bottle-neck for dangerously overcrowded train lines with pitiful peak hour services, streets are no-go zones after dark, police numbers are less than they were 20 years ago, parks and sports grounds are in appalling condition, youth development opportunities are sadly lacking, There is not even one fully functioning acute public hospital for the West.

There are some good people in the ALP, of that there is no doubt, but they are sadly in the minority. The party machine has delivered nothing but factionalism and branch-stacking in an endless quest to retain power at all costs. Large sections of the most vulnerable in our community have been warned of the consequences of changing their allegiance. As a consequence, the most loyal of voting servants have been left without – and too scared to vote against some sitting members.

Almost anything that is good in the west is a result of amazing contributions by individuals, community groups of all backgrounds, and courageous small business owners who continue to attempt to revitalise our suburbs. Those who attempt to highlight the flaws in the Labor machine pay the price; labelled “politically motivated,” “racist,” “militant thugs,” and worse.

It is not all bad, however. With every scandal, spin campaign, dodgy deal and shipped-in candidate, there is a strengthening of the community’s will to demand better. As the now infamous and successful Sunshine Pool campaign has taught us, if Governments at all levels fight the community long enough, they produce a stronger community movement. Sooner, rather than later, that community movement is going to bring about political change and a new dawn for disadvantaged communities.

Sean Spencer