Future of New Left Party uncertain
By Sean Malloy
A national meeting in March may determine whether the New Left Party will continue to exist, according to several prominent members.
Rumours have been circulating in progressive circles suggesting that the NLP had dissolved itself in December. Â鶹´«Ã½ Weekly contacted known members of the NLP for their comments.
Well-known member Brian Aarons declined to be interviewed but said that a national meeting of the group in March would be discussing the future of the party.
Sydney activist Peter Murphy, who also declined to be interviewed, said that no particular plans had been made for 1993 apart from supporting Alex Elphinston, an NLP member, running in upcoming federal elections as an independent green in the seat of Cook. No other candidates have been fielded by the group.
Murphy added that the aim of the gathering in March is to evaluate the last two years of the NLP.
Men's movement activist Adam Farrar said that nothing had been resolved about the future of the NLP and that the March conference would be looking at options for discussion on changes to its form.
Farrar credited rumours of the NLP's dissolution to the fact that a number of key people in the group had gone "in other directions".
Jackie Wurm, a member of the NLP gay and lesbian group, also said there was a discussion in the NLP about what form the NLP should operate in, but a resolve to continue the project existed. She noted that the gay and lesbian group will still be working this year, particularly around the Mardi Gras.
One trade union official familiar with the party though not a member said that while the group has not formally dissolved, in reality it no longer functioned.
Nadine Flood, a member of the NLP since its founding, said that part of the discussion was whether the group should operate as something other than a party. The problems in the group, she said, were political, and there was disillusionment at how long and difficult it is to establish a new and different left party.
Flood explained that the NLP was operating in a difficult environment and that after its formation a lot of people sat back and waited to see if the group worked rather than joining.