Melbourne greets Tampa

MELBOURNE — On May 16 the MV Tampa was greeted by a flotilla of boats organised by both the Refugee Action Collective-Victoria and the City of Port Phillip.

Messages of support for Captain Arne Rinnan’s rescuing of refugees from a sinking ship in August rose in chorus from both the tiny boats and people on the shore.

Perth farewells Tampa

PERTH — Sixty people gathered to bid farewell to Captain Arne Rinnan on May 25 as the MV Tampa left Australia on what is Rinnan’s final trip as captain. People cheered and waved as the cargo ship left the port, and a banner reading “Thank you, Tampa” was held high.

Socialist Alliance activist Yaluritja Clarrie Isaacs explained to some curious English tourists that, “they say Australian soldiers have killed 300 people in Afghanistan but the captain of that ship did much better — he saved the lives of 360 people”.

Anti-budget protest

MELBOURNE — The Socialist Alliance organised a speakout against the federal government’s budget on May 25 around the slogan “Money for welfare, not warfare!”. Speakers, including Australian Manufacturing Workers Union organiser Chris Spindler, condemned the budget for its attacks on the poor and sick, its failure to adequately tax the rich and its extra military spending and funding for so-called “border protection”.

From Green Left Weekly, May 29, 2002.
Visit the Green Left Weekly home page.

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