Speak-out slams racism

By Mike Byrne

BRISBANE -- “We have called this rally to highlight the need to actively campaign against racism as the key issue in this election”, Graham Matthews, the Democratic Socialists' candidate for Brisbane, said in opening a community speak-out held in inner-suburban West End on September 26.

Gary McLennan, Queensland University of Technology lecturer and socialist activist, also spoke. He warned of a looming international recession which could lead to devastation for working people, just as has happened in Indonesia.

Coral Wynter, the Democratic Socialists' Senate candidate, slammed the Howard government's savage cuts to child-care funding and health care. She called for the restoration, and expansion, of services to women. Andy Gianniotis, who heads the Democratic Socialists' Senate ticket in Queensland, defended the right of young people to protest.

Aboriginal leader Sam Watson stressed the importance of West End as a historical place for Aboriginal people. He condemned the high unemployment and low-standard housing Aboriginal people face, and called for genuine equality of treatment for Aboriginal people.

Richard Seeto, a well-known activist in the Chinese community, acknowledged Aborigines' prior ownership of Australia and called for full rights for migrants.

Telstra worker Tim Stewart denounced the Coalition government's Workplace Relations Act. He called for strong unions, independent of the Labor Party, to defend workers' rights and fight the sell-off of Telstra. Mike Byrne attacked the Coalition's move to introduce a GST.

“Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders are at war with Pauline Hanson and her racist policies”, Aboriginal activist Nicky Kirby told the crowd.

The rally was entertained with satirical street theatre from New World Order Theatre.

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