Welcome 2026 as a year of rising people's struggles

Written by: CPA (M-L) on 1 January 2026

The Communist Party of Australia (Marxist-Leninist) greets the New Year with expectations of rising people’s struggles against capitalist economic crisis, attacks on democratic rights and imperialist wars.

The cost-of-living crisis continues to hit the working class and other sections of the people very hard.  Expected interest rate rises will see money flow into the banks and other big financial institutions, the majority of which are foreign owned, while everyday people struggle with rent, with mortgages, and to put food on the table and the high cost of childcare and healthcare.  At the same time profits are at a record high for a handful of foreign and local corporations.

As a nation, we have been drawn even further into the orbit of US war plans against China. AUKUS and the Force Posture Agreement, as the pillars of the US alliance, deny our nation the right to make its own independent foreign policy decisions that uphold peace, justice and the sovereignty of all countries and people.

Our leaders are subservient to US and local corporations’ interests, not what is in the best interests for Australia’s working people and the environment.

There has been a determined attack on democratic rights justified by the terrorist attacks of two ISIS-aligned individuals. These rights must be fought for and restored. The attacks on democratic rights are a sign of the ruling class’s fear at the emerging people’s movement ignited by the momentous Palestine solidarity movements locally and internationally.

While we have condemned the Bondi shootings, 400 Palestinians have been killed since the imposition of the ceasefire, adding to a genocidal tally of more than 80,000 human beings.

All of this, and more, requires the skilfull application of the mass line in our political work.

In spite of the attacks on people’s livelihoods, on unions, on democratic rights and the march to a US-led imperialist war, workers and working people are resisting the attacks and defending their rights.  Factory and warehouse workers, agricultural workers, transport workers, teachers, health workers, retail workers, public servants and many others are organising and pushing back against the bosses, and scoring victories.

The movement to scrap AUKUS, resist a US-led war with China, and support Palestinian self-determination is broadening and growing.

In spite of reactionaries’ efforts to divide the people there is rising unity and solidarity.

It bodes well for the future and puts demands on us to lift our mass work to build a stronger, more unified and more class conscious working class.

We will not let the people down.

Communist Party of Australia (Marxist-Leninist)

Print Version - new window Email article

-----