Abolish profit system, says socialist candidate
BRISBANE — "We need a total change in politics. We need a new society, for the millions, not the millionaires", Coral Wynter, the Socialist Alliance candidate for the federal seat of Brisbane, told 150 people a public forum on August 24.
Sponsored by the Community Action Network and the New Farm Neighbourhood Centre, the forum featured candidates for the inner city electorate, speaking on the theme "People, politics and the future: Choosing the next Australia".
"The main roadblock to a new Australia is the profit system", the socialist candidate said. "Power needs to be taken into the hands of the people, away from the grip of the wealthy and the big corporations. And we need to break from the policies of 'economic rationalism' pursued by both the major parties.
"The billions spent on war should be used for expanding public health and education. We should get the troops out of Iraq now, free the refugees, provide land rights and compensation to the Aboriginal people, reject the [Australia-US] Free Trade Agreement and massively increase spending on public housing and public transport."
Richard Neilsen for the Greens and Bruce Cardwell for the Australian Democrats called for an end to the Iraq war and for urgent action to solve the looming environment crisis.
Sitting Labor MP Arch Bevis condemned the Howard governments for creating a "two-tiered health and education system". Liberal candidate Ingrid Tall was heckled when she tried to defend the Howard government's record on health, education and transport, as well as its support for the US occupation of Iraq.
Jim McIlroy
Candidates debate Australia's role in Iraq
SYDNEY — At an August 25 public forum organised by the Parramatta Peace Group, candidates from the Greens, Socialist Alliance, the Democrats and the ALP debated Australia's role in Iraq.
Julie Owens, the Labor candidate for the federal seat of Parramatta, stressed the importance of a "strong" alliance between the US and Australia. Robert McFarlane, the Democrats' candidate, said that while "the Democrats aren't into military stuff", he said Australia's troops should stay in Iraq to "fulfill our responsibility to reconstruct the country".
Lisa Macdonald, the Socialist Alliance candidate for the neighbouring federal seat Auburn, said the "war on terror" is a strategy by US big business to cement its political and economic control throughout the world. She also strongly condemned the anti-terror laws introduced by the NSW Labor government.
Wafaa Salti, from the Greens, said that Iraqis should have self-determination and Australian troops should be withdrawn from Iraq.
Tamara Pearson
Protest against alleged bullying
HOBART — On August 27, 30 people rallied to protest against the resignation of the Tasmanian anti-discrimination commissioner Jocelyn Scutt. On August 8, Scutt resigned claiming she had been abused and bullied at her workplace.
"When our anti-discrimination commissioner feels bullied and persecuted, it is a sure sign that those at the extremities [of society] are suffering more than they should", Martine Delaney, from the Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group, told the protesters.
As well as Delaney, the protest was addressed by, among others, Caroline Dean, from Prison Action Reform and Isla MacGregor, from Whistleblowers Australia.
Linda McRae & Duncan Meerding
From 91×ÔÅÄÂÛ̳ Weekly, September 1, 2004.
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