The NSW branch of the Fabian Society hosted a useful discussion last week on the question of What is Labor's Objective?
It was useful because an effectively full range of views was available through just three speakers. Chris Bowen advanced the line he advanced in Hearts & Minds, that the party objective should be social-liberalism. In his view the party stands for just two things, economic growth and opportunity for all. These together are supposed to improve the lot of everyone, even the most disadvantaged in our society. Bowen claimed that the socialist objective and its nascent call for government control of industry confused means and ends.
Jenny McAlister gave a far more strident speech, in which she addressed much of the core. In a prepared remark she responded to the idea of equality of opportunity with Anatole Franc's dictum that the law "in its majestic equality...forbids rich and poor alike to sleep under bridges, beg in the streets and steal loaves of bread. Social democrats seek more than just equality of opportunity, they want to see a reduction in the overall level of inequality. As democrats they separate themselves from revolutionary socialists, believing that the outcome can be achieved by democratic means. Indeed they assert that the objective of "democracy" is more than just an objective about political equality, but also socio-economic equality.
There were three main distinctions Jenny drew between social democracy and social liberalism.
1. By retreating to social liberalism we retreat from our commitment to using the power of government to build a stong (and I would add fairer) economy.
2. Social liberalism leads to greater individualism, and hence a retreat from universalism in health and education.
3. Social liberalism doesn't provide the conceptual tools we need to tackle inequality.
Nick Dyrenfurth talked about aspects of the objective which were more than just "economic", what it means to also value the "social." This includes a direct reference to the other half of Labor's history. It wasn't just action for equality, it was co-operative action for equality.
I'll confess that I think the discussion of the objective gets confused because it needs to follow-on from the discussion of the values. Bill Shorten said in his speech last month on modernising the party that he would seek a review of Chapter One of the National Platform that outlines Labor's Values. A statement of values is where it gets hard - it is where you have to already start making choices - or else you just add so much that they become meaningless, as Labor's now have.
At the same time the focus is now on the claims to be socialist, even the legitimacy of the social democratic tradition, or of democracy itself. For these three I rely most immediately on that paragon of politically neutral reporting - The Australian.
In an editorial of 8 May the Oz opined on the socialist objective. I asserted that Bill Shorten thinks it should go, that Paul Keating asserts it confuses "ends and means" and concludes:
Labor’s challenge is to once again become an advocate for economic growth and not simply to trumpet the post-materialist agenda of the inner-city elites. Fundamental to this is rebuilding relations with business and regaining economic credibility. Cheap shots at business leaders and attacks on the Commission of Audit may play well impress backbench MPs but to voters it shows that Labor still has not learnt the lessons of its election defeat.
There is so much in this that sits outside the framework of this discussion, however, if it is the case that the form of words we use to describe the true objective allows the objective to be misrepresented, then it should be changed.
Of more of a concern was a column by Greg Sheridan that argued that the experience of Europe was that there is a point at which social democracy makes so many people dependent on the State that no reform of State finances is ever possible. That this both misrepresents the objective and the means pales into insignificance compared to what it says of the neoliberal and public choice theory of voting behaviour. This point was made only a few weeks ago by demographer Bernard Salt (I think that was who it was but I can't find the article), who was mouthing something similar, a general claim that the democratic project was now doomed because everyone was only in it for what they could get.
The even more extreme view was mounted by Henry Ergas in a Libertarian Society talk shown on A-PAC. His view was that the tax free threshold should be abolished because it was important that every citizen understand that Government services are only delivered by taxes. He perhaps forgets that the GST taxes everyone, even those on welfare. He made a strange claim that in fact the GST and income tax were effectively the same...because they tax the individual.
In this context it is critical that the Labor Party is in a position to be able to coherently state its strong egalitarian purpose and the role Government plays in that. A rewrite of the objective is called for - but it should be remembered that it is a lot more than just the first point. It is reproduced in full below.
My suggestion for a shorter version that gets to the heart of the matter is as follows:
2. The Australian Labor Party is a social democratic party and has the objective of Government management of the economy to achieve the political and social values of equality, democracy, liberty and social cooperation. In particular the Australian Labor Party stands for:
(a) redistribution of political and economic power so that all members of society have the opportunity
to participate in the shaping and control of the institutions and relationships which determine their
lives
(b) establishment and development of public enterprises, based upon Government and other forms
of social ownership, in appropriate sectors of the economy, especially natural monopolies and those delivering critical social services
(c) management of Australian natural resources for the benefit of all Australians
(d) maintenance of and support for a competitive non-monopolistic private sector
(e) the right to own private property
(f) recognition and encouragement of the right of labour to organise for the protection and
advancement of its interests
(g) the application of democracy in industry to increase the opportunities for people to work in
satisfying, healthy and humane conditions; and to participate in and to increase their control over
the decision making processes affecting them
(h) the restoration and maintenance of full employment
(i) the abolition of poverty, and the achievement of greater equality in the distribution of income,
wealth and opportunity
(j) social justice and equality for individuals, the family and all social units, and the elimination of
exploitation in the home
(k) equal access and rights to employment, education, information, technology, housing, health and
welfare services, cultural and leisure activities and the law
(l) reform of the Australian Constitution and other political institutions to ensure that they reflect
the will of the majority of Australian citizens and the existence of Australia as an independent
republic
(m) recognition and protection of fundamental political and civil rights, including freedom of
expression, the press, assembly, association, conscience and religion; the right to privacy; the
protection of the individual from oppression by the state; and democratic reform of the Australian
legal system
(n) the development of a democratic communications system, as an integral part of a free society, to
which all citizens have opportunities for access
(o) elimination of discrimination and exploitation on the grounds of class, race, sex, sexuality,
religion, political affiliation, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, regional location, economic
or household status
(p) recognition of the prior ownership of Australian land by Aborigines and Islanders; recognition
of their special and essential relationship with the land as the basis of their culture; and a
commitment to the return of established traditional lands to the ownership of Aboriginal and
Islander communities
(q) recognition and encouragement of diversity of cultural expression and lifestyle within the
Australian community
(r) the use, conservation and enhancement of Australia’s natural resources and environment so that
the community’s total quality of life, both now and into the future, is maintained and improved
(s) recognition of the need to work towards achieving ecologically sustainable development
(t) maintenance of world peace; an independent Australian position in world affairs; the recognition
of the right of all nations to self determination and independence; regional and international
agreement for arms control and disarmament; the provision of economic and social aid to
developing nations; a commitment to resolve international conflicts through the UN; and a
recognition of the inalienable right of all people to liberty, equality, democracy and social justice
(u) recognition of the right of citizens to work for progressive changes consistent with the broad
principles of democratic socialism.
**************************
The Current Objective
2. The Australian Labor Party is a democratic socialist party and has the objective of the democratic
socialisation of industry, production, distribution and exchange, to the extent necessary to eliminate
exploitation and other anti-social features in these fields.
3 To achieve the political and social values of equality, democracy, liberty and social cooperation
inherent in this objective, the Australian Labor Party stands for:
(a) redistribution of political and economic power so that all members of society have the opportunity
to participate in the shaping and control of the institutions and relationships which determine their
lives
(b) establishment and development of public enterprises, based upon federal, state and other forms
of social ownership, in appropriate sectors of the economy
(c) democratic control and strategic social ownership of Australian natural resources for the benefit
of all Australians
(d) maintenance of and support for a competitive non-monopolistic private sector, including small
business and farming, controlled and owned by Australians, operating within clear social
guidelines and objectives
(e) the right to own private property
(f) recognition and encouragement of the right of labour to organise for the protection and
advancement of its interests
(g) the application of democracy in industry to increase the opportunities for people to work in
satisfying, healthy and humane conditions; and to participate in and to increase their control over
the decision making processes affecting them
(h) the promotion of socially appropriate technology and the monitoring of its introduction to ensure
that the needs and interests of labour, as well as the requirements of competitive industry and
consumer demand, are taken into consideration
(i) the restoration and maintenance of full employment
(j) the abolition of poverty, and the achievement of greater equality in the distribution of income,
wealth and opportunity
(k) social justice and equality for individuals, the family and all social units, and the elimination of
exploitation in the home
(l) equal access and rights to employment, education, information, technology, housing, health and
welfare services, cultural and leisure activities and the law
(m) reform of the Australian Constitution and other political institutions to ensure that they reflect
the will of the majority of Australian citizens and the existence of Australia as an independent
republic
(n) recognition and protection of fundamental political and civil rights, including freedom of
expression, the press, assembly, association, conscience and religion; the right to privacy; the
protection of the individual from oppression by the state; and democratic reform of the Australian
legal system
(o) the development of a democratic communications system, as an integral part of a free society, to
which all citizens have opportunities for free access
(p) elimination of discrimination and exploitation on the grounds of class, race, sex, sexuality,
religion, political affiliation, national origin, citizenship, age, disability, regional location, economic
or household status
(q) recognition of the prior ownership of Australian land by Aborigines and Islanders; recognition
of their special and essential relationship with the land as the basis of their culture; and a
commitment to the return of established traditional lands to the ownership of Aboriginal and
Islander communities
(r) recognition and encouragement of diversity of cultural expression and lifestyle within the
Australian community
(s) the use, conservation and enhancement of Australia’s natural resources and environment so that
the community’s total quality of life, both now and into the future, is maintained and improved
(t) recognition of the need to work towards achieving ecologically sustainable development
(u) maintenance of world peace; an independent Australian position in world affairs; the recognition
of the right of all nations to self determination and independence; regional and international
agreement for arms control and disarmament; the provision of economic and social aid to
developing nations; a commitment to resolve international conflicts through the UN; and a
recognition of the inalienable right of all people to liberty, equality, democracy and social justice
(v) commitment to and participation in the international democratic socialist movement as
represented by the Socialist International
(w) recognition of the right of citizens to work for progressive changes consistent with the broad
principles of democratic socialism.
No comments:
Post a Comment