Social Democratic Party of Tarraki

The Social Democratic Party is a centre-left political party in Tarraki and is one of the largest political forces in Tarraki. The party describes itself as a social democratic party, however, in reality, it often supports socialist bills in the House of Representatives.

The Party is supported by many trade unions, progressive organisations, young people, religious, ethnic and racial minority people.

Some members of the Social Democratic Party describe themselves as progressive liberals, although many of them have been defecting to the Liberal Party in the last few years.

History
The Social Democratic Party was founded in 2000 by Anthony Albanese. As a result of the 2000 general election, Social Democrats came out on top, but failed to win enough seats to govern alone. Nonetheless, Anthony Albanese's candidacy for Prime Minister was supported by all Green MHs (Members of the House), all Socialist MHs and one Liberal MH.

During Albanese's first term as Prime Minister, his minority government increased rail subsidies, made adult education accessible and affordable to everyone, banned on nuclear tests, lowered the income tax rate for the poorest to 11%, introduced food stamps and free school meals, established a National Enterprise Investment Scheme, introduced pollution controls, lowered the corporation tax rate from 21% to 13%, outlawed spying on Tarraki citizens, lowered the income tax rate for the middle class to 28%, launched a Business Startup Campaign and set the retirement age at 63.

As a result of major and successful reforms, in 2003, Social Democrats were able to win the majority of seats in the House of Representatives, which allowed Anthony Albanese to govern alone.

During their second term in Government, Social Democrats legalised prostitution, introduced a Universal Basic Income, passed a Childcare Provision, introduced a Youth Business Scheme Plan, cut the foreign aid budget, increased the police spending, cut the spending on science programmes.

It was widely accepted that the Social Democratic Party did not do enough to improve people's lives during its second term, which is why the party lost 15 seats in the 2006 general election.

Anthony Albanese resigned after losing the 2006 General Election to the Conservatives and the  2006 Social Democratic Party Leadership Election was launched. Sanna Marin, who identifies as a democratic socialist and served as Youth Secretary under Anthony Albanese has won the leadership election.

Despite picking up 7 seats in 2009, Sanna Marin's leadership is widely accepted to be unsuccessful for the Social Democratic Party. Some centrist Soc Dem politicians repeatedly accused Marin of being personally responsible for allowing the Conservatives to win the majority in 2009.

Sanna Marin announced her resignation as Party leader after the 2012 General Election results started to come in and it became clear that her Party would not be able to form a government.

Emily Thornberry, who identifies as a social democrat and served as Welfare Secretary under Albanese and then became Deputy Leader of the Social Democratic Party under Sanna Marin, won the 2012 Social Democratic Party Leadership Election.

Under Emily Thornberry's leadership, Social Democrats campaigned to Remain in the EU during the European Union Membership Referendum.

In the 2013 General Election, Social Democratic vote share decreased, however, they were able to win that election and form a coalition government with the Liberal Party, making Emily Thornberry the second female Prime Minister in the history of Tarraki.

During Emily Thornberry's coalition Government, Soc Dems legalised euthanasia, increased the income tax rate on the richest from 30% to 38%, scrapped oil drilling subsidies, reintroduced the UBI, after it was abolished by the Conservatives, cut military spending, increased the high-bracket income tax rate from 5% to 15%, made university grants available to everyone, criminalised spying on Tarrakians again, after it was decriminalised by the Conservatives, increased pensions, exempt poor people from paying most taxes, increased Housing Construction Subsidy, lowered the retirement age to 61 years, built more affordable homes than any other government in the history of Tarraki, increased science funding, launched the biggest tram expansion programme, increased rail subsidies, introduced rent controls and decriminalised prostitution for the second time.

Thornberry's progressive reforms have resonated with young people and more socially-liberal Liberal Party voters who turned to the Social Democrats in the 2016 General Election.

After the 2016 General Election, Emily Thornberry came 3 seats short of a majority and, surprisingly, refused to continue working the Liberal Party, choosing to form a coalition with the Greens, instead.