Iggy Kim, Sydney

“Truth” and “lies” (and “rodents”) are fast becoming hackneyed election buzz words. But the national “End the lies” rallies being held on the weekend before the elections will put back some of the real content.

Since the election was called, support for these protests is coming in thick and fast. There’s been a flurry of new endorsements for the Sydney demonstration, including from A Just Australia; ChilOut (Children Out of Detention); the NSW Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union; Australians Against Racism; Michael Thomson, assistant secretary, NSW National Tertiary Education Union; Rural Australians for Refugees; and the Coalition of Activist Lesbians.

This adds to the list of progressive parties, student unions and anti-war, refugee rights, international solidarity, same-sex rights and other campaign organisations.

Trade unions are also coming on board. In Victoria, the Victorian Trades Hall Council, the Geelong Trades and Labor Council and the Australian Education Union have endorsed the Victorian Peace Network-sponsored rally. In NSW, the Parramatta Teachers Association voted unanimously to request endorsement by the NSW Teachers Federation. In Sydney and Melbourne post-rally concerts will be held, featuring major acts.

The full list of endorsements and event details are on a new national website, <http://www.endthelies.net>. Following are comments from a range of endorsees of the protests.

Maria Lemos — Timor Sea Justice Campaign

We cannot afford not to support the ``End the lies'' rallies because of the times we’re living in. We can’t trust our political leaders; we can’t trust the institutions; we can’t trust the bureaucracy as it has been highly politicised. We need to take action and we need to take personal responsibility to make a difference.

Rob Kennedy — Stop the War Coalition

City-wide, state-wide, nationwide — the “End the lies” campaign has no boundaries! There is a definite buzz in the air about this rally; a tangible sense of hope and anticipation, something that we haven’t allowed ourselves to feel since the giant anti-war gatherings of 2003. This time, however, the government can’t snub us, because for every person who hits the street and votes with their feet, there’ll be ten or a hundred at home who will vote with their ballot! Bye-bye Howard! Political exile awaits thee! P.S. It’s a rat trap, Johnny, and you’ve been caught!

Pip Hinman — Action in Solidarity with Asia and the Pacific

The October 2-3 “End the lies” rallies are an opportunity for popular input into the election campaign. These protests are quickly gathering momentum, with significant and broad forces now involved in organising the rallies in Sydney and Melbourne.

People are not just fed up with the lies; they are fed up with the political structure that allows lies to prevail. The Howard government dismissed majority opinion and went to war in Iraq; it demonised the most oppressed sections of our community; and has brought Australia into disrepute around the world. The “End the lies” rallies will help bring Howard and his government to account on the eve of the October 9 federal election. We hope to follow the great example of the Spanish people and punish the criminal government that took Australia into a criminal war.

Howard Glenn — A Just Australia

A lot of people congratulate us on how much the public mood has changed on refugees and asylum seekers since the last election. What most don’t realise is that the government’s deception continues — the situation for proven refugees on temporary protection visas remains acute. There are still a hundred people on Nauru, around 90 kids in immigration detention — a couple of hundred detained for over three years now.

The big lie of 2001 was that people fleeing terror were a threat to Australia. In 2004, the big lie is that we’ve sorted it all out, that all the refugees are now happy abattoir workers in the bush somewhere. The truth is that we’ve been appalling; we continue to deny young people security and they’re suffering badly as a result. John Howard has deliberately damaged these peoples’ lives for political gain. I can’t describe how angry I remain about all this. And I know I’m not alone! We’ve really got to come together and try to end the lies — this national rally has the smell of success about it!

Robert Alcock — refugee-rights activist and weekend film-maker

I haven’t got enough time to help my kids with their homework, let alone get political. We don’t put up with bullying at school, and so what will my kids say if I don’t stand up against the bullies in parliament? Our Asian neighbours are well aware of our arrogant foreign policy. If we remember September 11, 2001, and Bali, we have to ask the question why?

Rozamunda Waring — Australia-East Timor Association

Spin and a litany of half lies are undermining the very fabric of Australian democracy. Huge numbers of Australians are alarmed. The truth rally will offer them the chance to unite in mourning the Australia they once knew and want back now.

Jess Melvin — Resistance

A recent report titled ``Youth and Citizenship'' found that only about 45% of young Australians believe they live in a democracy. A majority don’t. Is it any wonder when politicians routinely lie and whistleblowers are treated by them with contempt? Then we’re told we’re apathetic, and too interested in our own lives to do try and change the world. This is the biggest lie of all. Young people are active — just look at the “Books not Bombs” movement of last year. And right now the “Keep Left” grouping on Sydney University is uniting activists around the fight to save public education and specifically the nursing faculty on campus, as well as the struggle to get the troops brought home. We’re also using the student elections to let people know about the “End the lies” rally. Just because we don’t believe we live in a democracy now doesn’t mean we don’t want to live in one.

From Green Left Weekly, September 8, 2004.
Visit the Green Left Weekly home page.

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