By Anthony Benbow
PERTH -- “What our leaders are trying to tell us is that the world doesn't owe us a living, but instead owes them a profit”, said union activist Mick Houlbrook. “The Liberals plan an onslaught on the wages and conditions of ordinary workers, but it's the policies of the ALP -- corporate-style unions and enterprise bargaining -- that have cleared the way for the Coalition's individual contracts and removal of awards.”
Houlbrook was speaking at the launch of the Democratic Socialist election campaign for the federal seat of Perth, which was held at the Court Hotel in Northbridge on the evening of March 4. Candidate Michelle Hovane was the main speaker, with Houlbrook, Aboriginal activist Clarrie Isaacs and Rebecca Meckelburg from Resistance also contributing.
Meckelburg described the major parties' election campaigns, and their ignorance of any of the real issues of concern to young people, such as the environmental crisis, unemployment, inadequate Austudy and dole payments, and higher education being increasingly priced beyond the means of most.
Houlbrook highlighted many of the problems that working people face and stressed the need for a strong, democratic union movement, accountable to its rank-and-file members and independent of all political parties.
Clarrie Isaacs focused on the shameful record of the major parties on Aboriginal issues, comparing the Coalition's business-before-all-else stance with the ALP's hypocrisy in promising land rights to Aboriginal people and then giving them nothing.
“Australia has 16 state and federal ministers and shadow ministers who supposedly represent Aboriginal Affairs”, he said. “None of these ministers are Aboriginal, and none of what they do is of much benefit to Aboriginal people.”
Isaacs also spoke of the policies of transnational companies and the devastating effects they have on indigenous people around the world, highlighting the need for change to be international.
Each of the opening speakers talked about the need to be politically active in groups or organisations in order to build a genuine alternative, and it was this theme that Michelle Hovane expanded on.
Socialists with a majority in parliament would find their task impossible unless they were spokespeople for mass movements demanding change. We must make full use of the election campaign to present our views and policies, she said, but at the same time point out that the power of parliament is extremely limited, and that the only way to achieve real change is to involve large numbers of people.
“Our only hope of future victory is to build a movement for genuine and progressive social change. This election is our best opportunity at the moment to continue building that movement.”
Many of the 40 or so people who attended stayed behind afterwards to discuss some of the issues in more detail, and to volunteer their help. One member of the audience remarked that in the current political climate the Democratic Socialist campaign was “like a breath of fresh air”.
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