Controversy at Brisbane rally

By Maurice Sibelle

BRISBANE -- 500 people rallied against privatisation in Brisbane's King George Square on September 14. The rally was part of a national week of action.

The rally was chaired by Ian McLean, former president of the Queensland branch of the ALP. Referring to the deal struck between the Maritime Union and the Labor government, he opened the rally by saying, “What has happened in the last couple of days does not signal a reversal of the policy direction of the national government. They are still on the privatisation band wagon ... In this case the Maritime Union have shown us how it is done. They've taken the issue to the public. They've campaigned actively and openly and politically they have used their influence within the ALP.”

The rally was addressed by Col Davies and Dave Parry from the Maritime Union, Brian O'Halloran from the Catholic Peace and Justice Committee, Andrew Bartlett from the Australian Democrats and Phil Statham from the Community and Public Sector Union, among others.

Former Senator George Georges made a speech criticising the deal between the Maritime Union and the government. He said that the government had foisted a deal on the union which would cost jobs, and called for the sacking of Laurie Brereton, minister for industrial relations. Unhappy with the Georges speech, the Maritime Union did not participate in the march that followed the rally.

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