Brisbane rally against One Nation

By Sarah Cunningham and Tim E. Stewart

BRISBANE — Around 600 people rallied against One Nation in King
George Square on July 4. The rally heard speakers from Aboriginal organisations,
trade unions, migrant groups and socialist parties.

Speakers included Claire Moore, Qld secretary of the Community and Public
Sector Union; Jeannie Mok from Australian Communities Against Racial Discrimination;
Dr Ho Tran from the Vietnamese Community; Jack Lin from the Chinese Community
Forum; and Adrian Skerrit from the International Socialists.

Les Malezer from the Foundation for Aboriginal and Islander Research
Action (FAIRA) and a member of the National Indigenous Working Party pointed
out that since One Nation has 11 seats in Queensland's parliament, its
racism is going to be subsidised by taxpayers to the tune of hundreds of
thousands of dollars.

Graham Matthews from the Democratic Socialists said it was vital that
a radical political opposition to One Nation's racism and the Labor and
Liberal parties' austerity be built. “Many people who voted for One Nation
were rejecting the policies of Liberal and Labor governments. They thought
they were opposing the privatisation of Telstra and the introduction of
the GST. They were protesting against unemployment. To defeat One Nation,
the left has to take up the issues the racists are opportunistically exploiting.”

The rally marched through the city streets to Parliament House, doubling
in size on the way. Among the activities announced on the day were a rally
in Ipswich's city centre on July 19, organised by the Ipswich Anti-racism
Campaign; a march against racism and for land rights organised by the Democratic
Socialists, in West End at noon, July 25; and a high school walkout called
by Resistance on July 28, to coincide with a noon rally outside the first
sitting of Queensland Parliament organised by FAIRA.

From GLW issue 324