Communist Youth of Australia
The 9th Congress of the CPA voted unanimously to support the special resolution on youth, ensuring the formal establishment of the CYA (Communist Youth of Australia) at a youth congress in Sydney later this year. In his report to the Congress on youth activity, Jules Andrews said that many of Australia's youth had the same hopes for the future: a world free from hunger, poverty and exploitation, and a world at peace. However, he warned that the bourgeoisie were trying to lead today's youth "down the garden path". "The capitalists promise us great changes. But as they deliver token reforms with the left hand, they slowly tighten their grips around our throats with the right." Mr Jules said, "The communist youth in Australia are more firmly convinced than ever, that the bright future we demand will only be brought about by the overthrow of capitalism". "It will take the systematic application of scientific socialism as developed by Marx and Lenin. It will take dedication, discipline and hard work." "The CYA are committed to that work", he informed the Congress. The CYA grew out of a youth forum held in Sydney last October. Since then they have been holding regular fortnightly meetings, and established a contact network with an email group. They have also published the first of their quarterly magazine supplements to The Guardian, Bright Red. Mr Andrews said that the CYA would be an activist organisation. "We will fight for the rights of young workers, for the rights of indigenous people. We will fight to preserve our public health and education systems. "We will fight against the escalating nuclear build-up. We will fight to preserve our environment. "We will fight against capitalism and imperialism wherever it seeks to take away our rights and exploit us." He said that the activities of the CYA would be guided by Marxist-Leninist theory, an important feature that would distinguish the CYA from other leftist youth organisations. Thalia Anthony from the Cypriot Branch of the CPA said that the recruitment of young members into the CYA was a task of both the youth organisation and the Party as a whole. Ms Anthony said, "Party members have a direct responsibility through the involvement of their families, children and young friends. This should not be underestimated as a form of recruitment." Dora Anthony, also of the Cypriot Branch and President of the Sydney University Marxist Club, spoke of how the future of the Party depended on the success of the CYA. She saw an essential need for the party to recruit and train young cadres. She said that to be attractive to youth, all levels of the Party must show a genuine interest in youth affairs. "It is good, but not sufficient for The Guardian to run articles on youth matters." "Party meeting have many issues on their agendas — economic, international, union issues and so forth. I think it is important that issues related to youth must also be on the agenda of party meetings", she said. The Communist Youth of Australia will announce the date of their Foundation Congress through The Guardian and to all party branches. If you wish to be involved in the CYA, or to establish a branch in your area, contact your local party office or contact Jules on (02) 9212 6855, or email jules@cpa.org.au