Gay pride march
MELBOURNE — The first Pride march for some years was held on February 4 and met with great enthusiasm. Some 11,000 people from more than 60 community groups participated, including independent media, gay and lesbian support and special interest groups, socialist contingents and a host of others. The march congregated at the top of Fitzroy Street, St Kilda, and marched to Luna Park with many supporters and spectators lining the route. When the crowd reached O'Donnell Gardens, outside Luna Park, a range of speakers expressed the diversity of support for the gay and lesbian, transgender and bisexual communities.
Socialists launch Canberra campaign
CANBERRA — The Democratic Socialists were the only political party to attend and support a huge rally of teachers, students and other government workers on the same day as their election launch, February 6. The candidate for Canberra, Sue Bull, said, "It's no surprise that the other parties didn't attend, as most aren't the least bit interested in meeting the real concerns of ordinary working people". Some 30 people attended the launch and took part in a very lively discussion of socialist policies and why there is a need to build an alternative to the left of Labor which mobilises working people to defend their own interests.
Candidates quizzed
HOBART — Candidates standing in the seat of Denison for the state election were invited to address a meeting of 50 people on February 7 organised by the Tasmanian Gay and Lesbian Rights Group to hear the policies, views and commitments of parties and to question the candidates. The Liberal Party did not send a representative. Lance Armstrong from the Tasmanian Greens, passing around their policy statement, said that gay and lesbian rights were a social justice issue because of Tasmania's archaic laws. He also introduced three gay men who are running on the Greens ticket.
Call for East Timor asylum
BRISBANE — Some 40 people protested outside Garuda Airlines here on February 9, calling on the Australian government to grant political asylum to nine East Timorese who occupied the Australian embassy in Jakarta the previous night. The action was called by the Democratic Socialist candidate for Brisbane in the federal elections, Zanny Begg. "We are demanding that the Australian government withdraw recognition of the Indonesian occupation of East Timor and cancel the security pact with Indonesia", Begg explained. The protesters marched from Garuda to the City Mall, where police threatened to arrest Begg and other demonstrators when they occupied the centre of the mall to carry the message to passers-by.
ASIET emergency picket
MELBOURNE — Action in Solidarity with Indonesia and East Timor staged an emergency picket in support of nine East Timorese asylum seekers currently occupying Jakarta's Australian embassy. The picket at the GPO in Bourke Street on February 9 attracted around 25 people in pouring rain, to hear speakers including Ben Reid from ASIET, Chantal Wynter of Resistance and Democratic Socialist candidate for Melbourne Di Quin. "These nine Timorese are as much victims of an undemocratic and inhumane Australian foreign policy as of Indonesian aggression — grant them asylum", said Quin.