Locked In and Let Down: Labor's Betrayal of Its Democratic Socialist Mandate

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The Australian Labor Party (ALP) still describes itself in its Constitution as a "democratic socialist party." That foundational document pledges the elimination of exploitation, the pursuit of peace and justice, and the responsible stewardship of natural and social resources for the public good. But across the defining issues of our era — climate crisis, foreign militarism, and global human rights—Labor is not governing as a democratic socialist party. It is governing as a party of expedience, compromise, and strategic silence.

A Party Built on Socialist Ideals

Since its foundation, the ALP has claimed to represent workers, uphold democratic control over economic life, and protect the vulnerable through redistributive justice. Its National Platform (2023) reiterates these commitments, promising bold climate action, internationalism based on human rights, and social solidarity. Yet its real-world governance tells a different story.

Labor's current foreign policy and environmental decisions directly contradict these ideals. Instead of curbing corporate and militarist power, the party is enabling it. Instead of standing with the oppressed, it is accommodating the powerful.

Genocide in Gaza: Silence as Strategy

In January and again in May 2024, the International Court of Justice (ICJ) found that Israel's actions in Gaza constituted a plausible case of genocide. By July 2025, more than 57,000 Palestinians had been killed, including thousands of children, according to Gaza's Health Ministry. Hospitals, schools, and food distribution points have been systematically bombed.

Despite this, Labor has:

  • Refused to impose sanctions or embargoes on Israeli arms imports or military technology;

  • Approved export permits for dual-use equipment that may aid Israel's military;

  • Watered down language in United Nations resolutions and abstained from critical votes;

  • Delayed formal recognition of Palestinian statehood, despite platform promises.

This is a profound moral failure. Democratic socialism demands solidarity with the oppressed. Yet the ALP has subordinated humanitarian principle to geopolitical alliance.

AUKUS and Strategic Surrender

Labor’s embrace of the AUKUS pact—committing over $368 billion to nuclear-powered submarines—further reveals the party's departure from democratic socialist principles. Instead of investing in peace-building and public health, Labor is deepening Australia’s reliance on U.S. military strategy.

Since Donald Trump began his second presidency in January 2025, the dangers of this alignment have only increased:

  • Trump has launched airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities;

  • Imposed punitive tariffs on Australian exports;

  • Expanded U.S. military aid to Israel amid allegations of genocide.

Rather than reassess Australia’s dependence on this erratic and militarised partner, Labor has doubled down. Foreign Minister Penny Wong and Defence Minister Richard Marles continue to describe the alliance as the "anchor of Australia's national security."

This is not internationalism. This is strategic obedience. And it undermines Australia’s sovereignty, credibility, and moral standing.

Woodside and Climate Betrayal

Labor's climate policy is similarly dissonant. In May 2025, newly appointed Environment Minister Murray Watt approved a 40-year extension of Woodside's North West Shelf gas project — one of Australia’s most polluting fossil fuel facilities. This followed earlier support for Scarborough and other gas megaprojects.

The North West Shelf extension will:

  • Allow gas processing and export until 2075;

  • Result in hundreds of millions of tonnes of emissions;

  • Undermine Australia’s commitments under the Paris Agreement;

  • Violate First Nations custodianship and marine biodiversity protections.

Labor defends such decisions as economic pragmatism. But democratic socialism demands a planned, just transition — not endless extraction in service of fossil fuel profits. The ALP Constitution commits to eliminating “anti-social features” of industry and to managing resources in a way that serves “the people.” Labor’s 2023 National Platform commits to “climate justice,” intergenerational equity, and rapid decarbonisation. The platform explicitly states:

“Labor will act on climate change to protect the environment for future generations, recognising that environmental degradation and climate change disproportionately impact the world’s poor and vulnerable.” (Chapter 7)



Above chart compares the ALP’s stated policy, environmental and climate policy commitments — as aligned with democratic socialist values — against its actual practice. The gaps are most evident in areas like fossil fuel approvals, military-industrial subsidies (e.g., AUKUS), and failure to end fossil fuel subsidies.

A Pattern of Compromise

These decisions are not isolated. They reveal a governing philosophy that prioritises short-term diplomacy, industry lobbying, and strategic conformity over the values of social ownership, global justice, and ecological sustainability. The result is a Labor government that:

  • Talks of climate leadership while expanding gas infrastructure;

  • Speaks of human rights while arming and defending aggressors;

  • Celebrates internationalism while binding Australia to U.S. militarism.

What Democratic Socialism Requires

To live up to its name, the ALP must:

  • Impose sanctions and arms embargoes against nations credibly accused of genocide;

  • Withdraw from AUKUS and lead a regional security strategy rooted in diplomacy;

  • End new fossil fuel approvals and invest in a publicly owned clean energy future;

  • Recognise Palestine immediately, and restore Australia's independence on the global stage.

Without these actions, the party’s democratic socialism is not just diluted. It is discredited.

References

  1. International Court of Justice, South Africa v. Israel, Orders of Jan & May 2024: https://icj-cij.org/case/192 

  2. Gaza Health Ministry Death Toll, July 2025: reported via Reuters/AP/Al Jazeera

  3. ALP National Platform, 2023: https://www.alp.org.au/media/3569/2023-alp-national-platform.pdf

  4. ALP Constitution: https://www.alp.org.au/media/3572/alp-national-constitution-adopted-19-august-2023.pdf 

  5. The Guardian Australia, US military in NT and AUKUS reporting, Nov 2022

  6. The Australian, Trump tariffs and Iran airstrikes, Jan–June 2025

  7. Australia Institute: Fossil Fuel Subsidies Report, 2024: https://australiainstitute.org.au/post/fossil-fuel-subsidies/

  8. Climate Analytics, Woodside emissions impact, 2024: https://climateanalytics.org/results?search=woodside+emissions+ 

  9. Official release, Office of Environment Minister Murray Watt, May 2025 https://minister.dcceew.gov.au/watt/media-releases/statement-north-west-shelf-gas-processing-project 

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