Australian socialist left

The Socialist Left faction of the Australian Labor Party (the Left) is an organised political faction that advocates within the party for traditionally Labor interventionist and socialist economic policies. However, since the party reforms by Gough Whitlam in the 1970s, the left has also been the principal champion in the party of socially liberal values, such as women's rights, gay rights, reconciliation with Aboriginal Australians and Land Rights.

The Left is currently the smaller of the two main factions in the federal Caucus. Key members of the Left include Deputy Leader Jenny Macklin and Leader of the Opposition in the Senate John Faulkner, as well as ALP National President Carmen Lawrence.