Thousands protest in Melbourne rally

By Ray Fulcher

MELBOURNE -- “This is the revival of a campaign against privatisation by Keating and Kennett”, John Halfpenny, Trades Hall secretary, told a rally of 6000-10,000 unionists and concerned Victorians on September 14.

The “Enough is Enough” rally was called by the Trades Hall Council. The march to Parliament House included unionists representing federal public servants, maritime workers, metal workers, teachers, health workers and others.

Speakers attacked both federal and state governments over their continuing sale of community assets. Jan Armstrong, secretary of the Hospital Services Union, read a solidarity message from the Hospital Employees Union in British Columbia, Canada.

In his speech, Halfpenny said, “We have to do more of what the wharfies and seamen did over the past few days. We have to develop a campaign in the union movement and community generally to oppose the sale of our vital public utilities.” Where this campaign would lead was alluded to in Halfpenny's concluding remarks: “The ultimate [goal] would be to remove Kennett at the next elections”.

Halfpenny did not say what “the ultimate” would be in relation to the Keating government. No further rallies or actions have, as yet, been called.

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