Pensioners' Party (Australia)

Introducing Pensioners' Party (Australia)

The Party is a working class party, recognising the leading role of the working class in social change. The Party includes in its ranks workers, students, members who are professionals, small business people, farmers and pensioners.

The Party recognises the need for the working class to build links with other sections of society who are exploited by big business.

Money is raised by various fundraising activities and by regular weekly contributions (a “pledge”) from Party members. The Central Committee has recommended a guideline for members' pledges of 4 percent of gross income.

Each Party member is expected to help build the Party's influence among the people, by taking part in campaigns, by raising Party policies in mass organisations, by selling Party publications, by introducing and popularising the PPA in appropriate ways. Activity in a Party organisation is a requirement of Party membership.

Party members should seek to strengthen Party unity and when appropriate, make criticisms and suggestions which develop the collective work and democratic life of the Party. Differences of opinion will inevitably arise, but these should not be allowed to become personal animosities. Differences can be overcome by patience and a search for agreement.

Democratic Centralism

The organisational principles of the Pensioners Party of Australia are known as “democratic centralism”.

The aims of democratic centralism are to promote a vigorous democratic life within the Party, to ensure a cohesive and effective central leadership, and to build Party solidarity and unity.

The best way to win support for Party decisions is to ensure maximum participation by all members in the decision making process.

It is a democratic centralist principle that majority decisions are binding on all Party members. This ensures a single line for the Party on all issues, avoiding fragmentation and improving the effectiveness of Party work.

Members who, on occasion find themselves in the minority, are obliged to carry out majority decisions. Such a situation often does not mean the end of the discussion on the issue, but those in a minority are not permitted to frustrate the carrying out of majority decisions.

At every level of the Party, collective leadership should be practised. Important questions should be discussed and decided collectively and responsibility then allocated to individuals, or groups of individuals, to carry out the decisions.

A healthy democratic centralist structure requires frequent interaction between the different levels of the Party. Leading Party organizations should report to those Party bodies under their leadership. Similarly, Lower Party organisations (Branches, District Committees) should regularly submit reports, resolutions, opinions to higher Party bodies' higher Party organisations should assist lower Party organisations in their work. Lower Party organisations should actively seek assistance and guidance from Higher Party bodies.

Democratic centralism aims to put into practice collective decisions made at all levels of the Party. To ensure that the will of the majority is actually carried out, all Party organisations should make a regular check on the carrying out of decisions.

Joining the PPA

If you decide to join the PPA, you have to fill in a Membership Application Form.

Your application for membership has to be supported by a Party member who signs your application form as your nominator. The application is then presented to a Party organisation for consideration.

Membership is open to all who are 16 years of age or older, who normally reside in Australia, who accept the Party's Program and Constitution, and who are willing to be active in a Party organisation.

Membership fees are $60 per year for those receiving an income above the age pension and $15 per year for those receiving the age pension or less.

On acceptance of your membership application by the Party organisation, you become a full member and are entitled to exercise all the rights and duties which are set out in the Federal Independent Sovereign Nation State ISSA Legislation & Constitution.