Re: History of Trotskyism in Australia

[Gary MacLennan <g.maclennan@xxxxxxxxxx>]

>
>1. There is at least one mention in the original 'Bulletin of
>the Opposition' to a left opposition grouping in the CPA. I've
>not had time to try translating it. It may have been covered in
>the Militant in the early 30s.
>
I have a 30s pamphlet by Dixon one of the CPA leaders and that has a brutal
attack on Trotskyism.  so I deduced  from that Trotskyism was a problem for
the CPA.  Interesting/


>2. The Australian Healyites published a history of the CPA in
>1981 that gives some useful background and sources on the
>trotskyists in Australia.
>

I have not seen this and of course would love to obtain a copy.  The
Healyites though along with the Sparts had the reputation of true lunacy
among us Mandelites. (I  suppose this was a case of the pot insulting the
kettle) It is worth saying though that the Healyites appeared  to have more
success attracting workers, but over all their organizational methods had
the stench of Jehovah Witnessing, or Seventh Day Adventists.  They never in
my time here interacted with other sections of  the Left.  I suspect they
felt they could not expose their members to that.


>3. Revolutionary History did not find anyone to review the
>Australia section of Alexander's 'International Trotskyism'
>book, but Ted Crawford commented extensively on New Zealand and
>pointed out some links (and inaccuracies). If you wanted to
>interview some old timers I'm sure he could get you some leads.
>

Again I would love to do this but honestly I do not have the time.  Still
it's a thought.

>4. Labournet recently carried a long obituary on an australian
>trotskyist, from Greenleft. I can repost it if there's interest.
>>_________________________________
>jplant@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx


By all means I would be very interested.

regards

Gary



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