BRISBANE — The September 7-8 “Radical Times: Brisbane in the '60s and '70s” conference overwhelmingly condemned US plans to wage war against Iraq. Participants demanded that the Australian government keep out of any war in the Middle East.

The conference's aim was “to commemorate and record the significant social protest movements and political-industrial issues of the [1960s and 1970s], focusing on students at the University of Queensland”. It was organised by the Brisbane Labour History Association and attracted around 150 people.

Particular sessions focused on the anti-Vietnam War movement, the trade unions, civil liberties struggles in Queensland during the regime of Joh Bjelke-Petersen, the early women's liberation movement, the 1970 anti-Springbok tour and racism, left and alternative media, radical organisations and the relevance of the 1960s-1970s movements for today.

Speakers included prominent radical leaders of the period, such as Dan O'Neill, Brian Laver, Carole Ferrier and Megan Martin, Murri activists Sam Watson and Bob Anderson and many other participants from that turbulent period.

From Green Left Weekly, September 18, 2002.
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