Alex Bainbridge for Perth

Alex Bainbridge (38) is the Socialist Alliance candidate for the seat of Perth. He is currently the WA co-convenor of the Socialist Alliance and coordinator of the Perth Activist Centre.

Alex joined the socialist movement in 1990 out of concern about the environment and a realisation that the existing capitalist system is incapable of solving the ecological problems we face. He was active in the campaign against Australia's involvement in the 1991 Gulf War and the more recent invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq.

In this capacity, he was a media spokesperson for the "Stop Bush" campaign at the time of the APEC summit in Sydney in 2007.

In 2005, he travelled to Venezuela as part of the first Australian brigade in solidarity with the unfolding "Bolivarian Revolution" in that country. The Venezuelan experience is one of building 'people's power' as an alternative to government in the interests of big corporations. Alex believes that that is the direction we need to go in Australia as well.

Today, he is an active member of the Safe Climate Coalition, the Refugee Rights Action Network and the Friends of Palestine among other organisations.

"When I look at the world today, I keep thinking of the words of Malcolm X who famously said: 'You're living at a time of revolution. People in power have misused it, and now a better world has got to be built!' This is doubly true today! People in power have misused it - badly - and now we do need to build a better world. This election campaign is part of the process of building that better world and on that basis I call for your support."

Alex Bainbridge grew up in Perth's northern suburbs and attended Mount Lawley Senior High School. Today he lives in Perth with his partner and daughter (5).