BRISBANE — On May3, 400 people rallied in King George Square to protest against the state funeral held in Kingaroy that day for former premier Joh Bjelke-Petersen.

Speakers included veteran left activists Brian Laver, Drew Hutton, Carole Ferrier and Ian Rintoul. They highlighted the repressive character of Bjelke-Petersen's government, including its outlawing of street protests, police persecution of Indigenous people and the sacking of 700 electricity workers during the 1985 SEQEB dispute.

The protesters marched on state parliament to protest Labor Premier Peter Beattie's decision to commit public money to “bury a dictator”.

James Pyke

From Green Left Weekly, May 11, 2005.
Visit the Green Left Weekly home page.

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