Socialist Alliance makes refugees an issue in Tassie poll

Socialist Alliance makes refugees an issue
in Tassie poll

BY DARREN JIGGINS

HOBART — The day after Premier Jim Bacon's June 21 calling of the
Tasmanian election, there was a 500-strong refugees' rights rally in Hobart
— the largest rally for refugees in Tasmania ever.

"We were very encouraged by the turnout”, said Socialist Alliance Denison
candidate Shua Garfield, pointing out that the alliance's campaign aims
to strengthen support for refugees. Many alliance members helped to organise
the protest.

“We were delighted to find that the page three headline in the June
23 Sunday Tasmanian read 'Rally makes refugee haven a poll issue'
— a reference to our call to make Tasmania a safe haven for refugees”,
said Garfield.

The call also featured prominently at a June 23 Launceston refugees'
rights rally, and was further publicised as a result in Launceston's Examiner.
The Mercury got into the act on June 28, interviewing another Socialist
Alliance Denison candidate, Alex Bainbridge.

For more information or to get involved in the campaign, phone 6234
6397 or 0438 691 125 in the south of the state or 0417 319 662 in the north.

From Green Left Weekly, July 3, 2002.

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From GLW issue 498