Maa from I.S. Information Bulletin NS
The Australian Section of the Fourth International has recently held its two-day National Conference. The Conference was attended by 20 delegates and 10 observers and marked an important step forward in the steady progress made by the Section over the past years,
Reports were deliverod on : The Political vituation, the Australian uconony, the crisis of Stalinism, the Colonial Revolution and its effect on Austr— alia, and on the organisational tasks of the Section. A new constitution of the section was adopted, and a number of resolutions adopted on the situation of the Fourth International, All reports and resolutions were fully discussed in the best traditions of democratic-centralism, and absolutely no obstacles wore put in the way of free expression of points-of-view.
The main political report delivered by the chairman of the Working Burcau outlined the general perspective of our movement in Australia in light of the line adopted at successive Yorld Congresses. It noted the particular histor ical circumstances that allowed Australia a certain "exceptionalism" in its industrialisation, which however was unecon mic from the possibility of competing with America, jurope, ctc. MThecconomic decline already marked aftor almost 20 years of continuous boom threatened to speed up, particularly with Britain's proposed entry in the &[email protected]. It then analysed the various political parties, In dealing with the Australian Labor Party it noted that it was the “mass workers party" and that "its history has been one of struggle between two inevitably con— flicting tendencies: the one bejng the adherents of 'responsible governnent', wedded to the social status quoe..»the other projecting albeit confusedly, an anti-capitalist socialist orientation....." And that "the L.P. is the essential arena of the struggle to clarify the healthy left wing..."
As for the Commnist Party, which has a base in tie trade unions, but little electoral or political support, it is noted eee By vigorous activity in the 1930's was able to challenge the routinist officialdom of the debilitated unions.,"! but that it failed to lead the working-class in struggles that achieve very sufficient gains. It has been hit by the debunking of St
alin and the Sino-Soviet polemics, although "more recently the C.P. Central Committee by a majority decision reversed its previous attitude, and came down on the side of the Khrushchov fraction and against the Chinese....It is a decision which will not solve the mounting problems of the U.P. leadership."
While noting that the struggle in the C.P. opens up "possibilities... Greater than ever before" for our movement, "this work of reorientating Communist militants, while essential, remains secondary to our primary orientation of int ation in the mass workers' movement." The next report on Sta sM, went on f to claborate on the nature of the crisis and our work in it ant here to emphasise", the reporter stated, "that political salvation for the OP. members | of the entrist policy...in p
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