Action updates

Wednesday, March 17, 1999 - 11:00

Tas Uni VSU debate

HOBART — Fifty people attended a fiery debate about "voluntary student unionism" at Politics in the Pub at the University of Tasmania bar on March 10. Anti-VSU speakers Nikki Ulasowski from Resistance, Chris Heppel from the Greens and Robyn Richardson, state president of the National Union of Students, opposed John Kennett, Tasmanian Young Liberals president, Liberal Senator Eric Abetz and Kevin Bonham.

Anti-VSU sentiment in the audience was high, and several people grilled the pro-VSU speakers. The debate was the first of a number of anti-VSU actions and events in Hobart, including a rally on March 31.

No solidarity with PRD

BRISBANE — Around 40 people attended a teach-in at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music titled "Students for Socialism" on March 7. Organised by the International Socialist Organisation (ISO), the forum covered issues such as "Reform or Revolution", politics in Indonesia and postmodernism. A feature panel on "The Marxist tradition in the women's movement" was cancelled.

The speaker on Indonesia described the student-led demonstrations which led to the fall of Suharto, but barely mentioned the main revolutionary socialist party in Indonesia, the People's Democratic Party (PRD). When it was mentioned, the PRD was criticised for its supposed lack of criticism of Megawati Sukarnoputri. Other ISO members claimed the PRD is not a socialist organisation.

The forum chairperson refused to put a Democratic Socialist Party member's motion of solidarity from Students for Socialism for the PRD.

Our bodies, our lives

BRISBANE — Twenty people attended a feminist forum titled "Our bodies, our lives" organised by Resistance on March 13. Karen Fletcher, an activist in the Democratic Socialist Party and the International Women's Day Collective, spoke about the struggle for abortion rights in Australia and internationally. Stella Reithmuller from Resistance discussed the beauty myth, especially how it distorts the lives of young women.

The meeting also heard from Resistance activist Ruth Ratcliffe, who discussed the relevance of class and race in the struggle for women's liberation. A feminist performance night will be held at the Resistance Centre on March 19, 7pm.