Activists confront Anderson on refugees, Telstra

BY NICK FREDMAN

LISMORE — At a breakfast function for businesspeople here on July 18, deputy prime minister John Anderson was met by banners, placards and twenty-five chanting people opposing the government's policy of the mandatory detention of asylum seekers.

Addressing the protesters, Anderson claimed that only a dozen "genuine" refugees were being held in detention centres, ignoring the facts presented to him by members of the Refugee Action Collective. RAC demanded the end of the "Pacific solution", mandatory detention to be replaced by hostel accommodation, education, training and other assistance for all asylum seekers.

RAC is planning to continue the campaign with a 10-day solidarity hunger strike from August 16, culminating in a regional forum on August 25 and a rally on August 26, the anniversary of the Tampa incident.

Members of the Socialist Alliance at the protest also opposed the impending full privatisation of Telstra. They argued that Anderson's visit was made to pressure National Party ranks into agreeing to the Telstra sale, at a time when many people in regional areas are fearful of further price hikes and loss of jobs services. The Lismore Telstra call centre has been recently threatened with closure.

From Green Left Weekly, July 24, 2002.

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From GLW issue 501