John Clancy claims in his ad (GLW 21/8) that the Australian Democrats are the only option for Left people. He asks which other party has "policies that cover every facet of fairness and honesty?" In fact the Greens, despite repeated Democrat attempts to portray them as a single issue party have a full range of policies.
However a party is more than its policies. The Democrats hold positions that are generally left, yet over the last few years have systematically hounded out their most prominent left wing members. Names like Janet Powell, Richard Jones and Patsy Harmenson spring to mind. Even the relatively moderate Jean Jenkins was expelled.
As an ex-member of the Democrats I have been greatly distressed by the process of clearing the decks so that the leadership can impose whatever views it wishes. The Democrats are still clearly better than the ALP or coalition, and I would support their inclusion in a broad left coalition, despite Kernot's rejection of this option. However, after their alliance with figures such as Brian Harradine and Fred Nile in the failed attempt to keep Bob Brown out of the Senate, it is hard to regard them as the left party I thought they were when I joined.
Stephen Luntz
Canberra
Sex industry
I was alarmed to read this week that the sex industry is lobbying for the right to advertise its vacancies with the Commonwealth Employment Service.
It appears that at present they are allowed to advertise only for receptionists but not for prostitutes. The Eros Foundation said they are "lobbying to have the CES allow forms to canvass whether a job seeker would object to working in the industry".
Amanda Vanstone's office is "considering this". Too politically correct to give them the big A that they deserve.
As a mother of young daughters it sickens me. How long before the "choice" element was removed in the CES? Already we are aware that a young girl who did her training in bar work was offered a job by the privatised part of the CES in a club. Although she was working behind the bar it turned out to be a strip club. She had the choice of take the job or lose the dole.
From being a nation of waiters and servants, a term used by a very astute politician in the Coalition Government, we are now going to become an official Pimping service preying on our children.
Therese Mackay
Port Macquarie NSW
[Edited for length.]
Media distortion
We are outraged at the media's distortions of the Parliament House rally in Canberra on August 19, portraying the demonstrators as wilfully destructive rioters.
The conflict began when police prevented a group of marchers joining the main demonstration, seizing several Aboriginal protesters. The crowd then surged towards Parliament House, pushing through the police lines.
When demonstrators reached the main entrance, the police locked the doors to prevent them getting inside. This angered the protesters who then pried the main doors open to get in (none of these were smashed).
The attempt by the demonstrators to enter was met with a brutal response. Police beat protesters with batons, punched them in the face, and kicked them as they lay on the ground after they were dragged through police lines.
Another focus of media hysteria was the damage done to the souvenir shop. The only reason the shop was entered was as a way of getting by the police blockade at the front doors.
Moreover, much of the damage to the shop was actually caused by police when they baton-charged the crowd after the door was opened, injuring many demonstrators in the shop and causing much of the reported destruction in the process.
Had the police not blocked the demonstration from entering Parliament, the violence and damage would not have occurred. But the real tragedy in all of this is that the immense feeling of solidarity generated among the diverse participants, united in their opposition to the governments' attacks, was completely lost in the media's spurious obsession with "violence".
Annette Maguire and Liam Mitchell
Sydney
[Edited for length.]
Which way forward?
The fight against government attacks on the public sector and the unions is obviously an important one. The recent successful rallies in Canberra and around the country were a great start. In the Illawarra the rally was organised through Trade Union and Community Coalition Against the Cuts.
This group was initially a wide range of union, student, political, community and public sector, aged and migrant groups as well as individuals. At the last meeting a proposal was made to limit the organisation to peak groups only, in particular excluding political organisations. Many of the people present were active members of the ALP.
If we are going to beat these attacks, we need to build the broadest, most inclusive, most powerful group possible that coordinates and organises campaigns and encourages grass roots participation.
Surely the lessons of the past 13 years point the way ahead. Where the leadership of the unions and mass movements has been totally separated from the grass roots it has made it easier for leaders to be coopted. Getting into bed again with again with the ALP is only going to leave us with more of the same. Relying on lobbying conservative politicians (from either main party), or hoping the media will give favourable coverage is also inviting more of the same.
Andrew Hall
Wollonong
[Edited for length.]
Environment centre
As a long time resident of Chermside and an activist in the conservation movement for many years, I have often thought of the need of Brisbane's north side having an environment centre, where conservationists could come to do their researching for their various assignments.
Well, there is such a place that could be sold at any time. It is a Queenslander on a double allotment which is situated in a central position, with easy access to public transport.
To make this vision become a reality, it needs people who would be willing to invest with a view to becoming a member of a co-operative that would manage the centre. Anyone interested should ring me on (07) 3359 9894 (night) or (07) 3221 0188 (day).
Eddie Kann
Chermside Qld
Hypocrisy
Is there no end to the level of hypocrisy that we all have to face every day?
The government attacks against Education, Health and Aboriginal Reconciliation cost these institutions $450 million, $74 million and $400 million (over 4 years) respectively. Radical Unionists' attacks on Parliament House on August 19 cost that institution a maximum of $75,000.
The mainstream media is universal in its condemnation of the "disgrace", but which institution will suffer the real damage? What, therefore, is the real "disgrace"? I am sure that there is no danger that Parliament House will shut up shop in the next few years.
Also, Saddam has invaded the Kurdish "safe haven" at the request of one Kurdish group at war with another. The USA was quick to condemn such "reckless" behaviour and launched an election inspired blitzkrieg.
At least that "safe haven" is geographically close to Iraq. Vietnam, invaded by the US at the (dubious) request of one Vietnamese group at war with another, is thousands of miles from California. Obviously, the US operates under one set of moral principles and the rest of the world must operate under another.
Just as well the Soviet bloc didn't model its behaviour on what we are seeing now or we may have heard air raid sirens in Sydney during the Vietnam years, like the ones that are now pealing through the streets of Baghdad.
Tristan Webb
Sydney
[Edited for length.]
August 19
It never occurred to Frank Devine (Australian 5/9/96) to ask the most basic question about Canberra's riot: Why did the police re-direct a section of the march? This not only broke a prior agreement with the ACTU about where police would allow marchers to go. More importantly, it re-directed an already angry crowd into the forecourt of Parliament, where the situation would obviously become more explosive.
Police had already ensured an explosive situation by roughing up demonstrators — after singling out a lone protester. This among a crowd enraged by what they saw as Howard government deception, disenfranchisement and pushing of the poor to the wall.
Why did the police re-direct this march? Was there a dirty tricks department at work?
Chris Beale
Sydney
Middle East
Isn't it great to be alive — when you've got a Dill like Bill Clinton blundering around on the world stage.
Not one to learn from history is Bill — you need lots of World friends to "win" Gulf Wars — and as Cautious George found out, it don't guarantee no second term. Such stunts to win media attention, or distraction, are about as helpful as nuking the place to create Middle East peace.
His nervous speech to the American people on why he went cruising again down the missile thick road (supposedly to help the Kurds, or was it to get Bob Dole to stop calling him gutless) has got the whole Middle East nervous. And with only John Major (still fighting his Falklands war) to support him on the world stage he's in a no win/egg on the face/fool of the year situation.
Saddam Hussein has "fixed up" most of his Northern Iraq problems — brutally decimated the dissidents and a major Kurdish rebel group (PUK), not to mention improved trade routes to Turkey, and not violated any UN resolutions. He's stuck it up the so called greatest nation on the planet and got all his neighbours onside.
Maybe the Middle East will get a just and lasting peace, but it'll be in spite of the pointless interference of a dill named Bill.
Robert Wood
Sydney
[Edited for length.]
'Kids'
High school students are sick of being seen as a "bunch of kids" who can't organise and don't care. It's true that in recent years students have been more apathetic, but we're a new generation, and we're angry! Not just for ourselves, but for young people as a whole and for those to come.
The budget cuts hurt us, as a group, and we won't stand for it. High school students before us have helped to change the status quo, fighting to end the Vietnam war, for free education (which was won, but unfortunately lost again), and in many campaigns all over the world.
The budget is a cohesive attack on Australia's youth: University funding cuts, HECS increases of thousands of dollars, course places reserved for those whose bank balance is more attractive than their IQ, assaults on the Youth Training Wage (making it barely livable), compulsory mediation counselling for eligibility to Homeless Austudy, and a "review" of Austudy.
This is hardly "sharing the pain", as our government likes to tell us. So now we're telling our government what we think, and they'd better listen for a change. We might be young now, but next election many of us are voting.
Fiona Young
Black Rock, Vic
Occupations
I thought I would share with readers the International Socialist Organisation's reason for proposing the Australian Tax Office as a destination for the September 5 education march in Perth.
According to a leading ISO member: "The ATO is occupation heaven. It has heaps of glass, stairwells and fire escapes. I'm drooling at the thought of it."
Another fine example of the ISO providing leadership for the movement?
Corinne Glenn
East Victoria Park WA
Collective bargaining
Late in 1993, Weipa workers were offered Individual Contracts; we had been starved of a pay rise since 1991. Today we have, for the first time, the same working conditions as our Individual Contract workmates. I hope the Senate now blocks the Howard Industrial Relations Legislation or others will not have the ability to fight for equal pay for work of equal value.
Comalco's CEO has made comments that award workers, categorically, are not discriminated against. However, a statement from the IRC found that: "CRA's policy has discriminated, and continues to discriminate against individual award employees in terms of their remuneration and conditions of employment ... A policy which holds that employees who are members of a union must, as a group, be discriminated against on the grounds that they wish to be represented by their union in collective bargaining, is inconsistent with the Act."
As I drive my haul truck at the mine at Weipa, I know my fellow work mates have the same conditions and work practices. It is now an equal playing field and we now, as a unionised collective, have the chance to go forward. Those sitting on the fence do not wait to be picked off.
Collective bargaining strengthens workers as a whole.
Nigel Gould
Secretary/Treasurer CFMEU Weipa Lodge Qld
[Edited for length.]
Innocent animals
Violence will always breed violence; people who have suddenly and unexpectedly had their lives and security rudely upset by Howard (with no pre-election speeches about what he was going to do) have become scared and furious, and have reacted naturally. Also violence often leads to the desired goal — witness the French Revolution, the Russian Revolution, and the abrupt end to the Vietnam war.
But today, on the eve of the 21st century, it is quite unnecessary for the police to drag horses into the conflict. From time immemorial, heartless humans have dashed into battle on horseback; all the great (?) victories of history — Agincourt, Waterloo, Culloden, etc. — have involved these frightened and innocent animals.
The Australian police are quite well equipped with helmets, shields and tear-gas. If the country is to become a permanent South Korea, at least leave these innocent and beautiful creatures out of human battles.
Rosemary Evans
St Kilda Vic