NSW Fabian Forum: What happened to the Left?
Thursday, September 18th, 2008Yesterday evening (and for the first time in a while) I got along to a NSW Fabian Society forum in Sydney, this one focusing on the following topic:
In years gone by the Left was a serious political force that held sway in once powerful trade unions, the Australian Labor Party and the broader community. The battles between the left and right for the control of the Labor Party were legendary. In recent years the Left has ceased to be a powerhouse for ideas.
Is the Left dead and does it really matter?
The debate was moderated by Rose Jackson, featuring the following speakers:
Professor Geoff Gallop (Former WA Premier and now Director of the Graduate School of Government at the University of Sydney)
Rodney Cavalier (Former NSW Education, Energy Minister)
David McKnight (UNSW Academic and author of Beyond Right and Left).
My thoughts and potted recollections from the night over the fold.
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