The CPA was formed in 1964 as the manifestation of a split within the Communist Party of Australia which occurred largely as a result of the Sino-Soviet split. The name originated due to the belief that "the Marxist-Leninist line ... upheld above all by the Communist Party of China, and the non-Marxist line is upheld by the leaders of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union". The Communist Party of Australia formally endorsed the Soviet Communist Party, leading to those within the pro-China faction believing that the party had abandoned "universal principles of Marxism-Leninism". The leading figure in the breakaway group was Ted Hill, a Melbourne barrister who had been Victorian State Secretary of the CPA. Other noted figures were Paddy Malone and Norm Gallagher of the Builders Labourers Federation, Clarrie O'Shea of the Tramways Union and Ted Bull of the Waterside Workers Federation.
1970s to 1990s
The party exerted sizeable influence on the militant student movement in Australia during the late 1960s and early 1970s on campuses such as Monash University and LaTrobe University in Melbourne as well as Flinders University in Adelaide through their front group, the 'Worker-Student Alliance'. A notable leader of the Worker-Student Alliance at this time was veteran political activistAlbert Langer. The party also held considerable sway within the Australian trade union movement from inception through to the 1980s. Clarrie O'Shea was party Vice-President at the time of his gaoling in 1969, which led to an unprecedented general strike across Australia until his release was secured. Norm Gallagher led the Builders Labourers Federation for over a decade, a time during which he was a nationally known and controversial figure. Other party members, such as John Cummins and Jim Bacon were also prominent BLF figures throughout the 1970s and 1980s. In the years following the de-registration of the BLF in 1986, CPA influence within the union movement began to decline. During the 1980s and 1990s the majority of the founding members of the CPA died or retired. Ted Hill's retirement in 1986 and death in 1988 left the party without its most recognised public figure.
Current activity
The party ceased publishing a hard copy version of its newspaper Vanguard on a regular basis at the end of 2014. However, it continues to publish a special May Day edition of the paper each year, as well as releases various publications periodically. It is unknown how many members the party has as it maintains strict adherence to its founding policy of the vast majority of members keeping their party membership secret. They have had a new website since 25 October 2014.
