May 1 meeting debates blocking budget

BY TONY ILTIS

MELBOURNE — A May 1 forum organised by the Socialist Alliance hosted a lively debate about whether the budget should be blocked, after Greens speaker Pamela Curr explained her party's opposition.

The forum, attended by 60 people, discussed some of the likely attacks in the budget, including to Medicare and higher education. Speakers included Doctors Reform Society national president Tim Woodruff, NUS education officer Liz Thompson, and Lincoln Hancock from Books Not Bombs.

Hancock, who ran as a Socialist Alliance candidate in recent council elections, explained the alliance's campaign to "make Howard face the people" by blocking the budget, describing it as "throwing down the gauntlet to the opposition parties".

Curr, however, said the Greens did not support blocking the budget because the ALP wouldn't support it, and it was a "symbolic gesture" that could cut funding to social services. Victorian Council of Social Services CEO Cath Smith agreed, arguing that PM John Howard might win a Senate majority if blocking the budget forced an election.

Socialist Alliance speaker David Glanz, however, argued that voters should have a chance to punish the coalition. Glanz pointed out Howard's popularity was a result of his electoral opponents offering no alternative.

Thompson agreed. Pointing to the huge anti-war mass mobilisations, she argued that the anti-war movement should not be afraid of Howard going to the people. "Bring it on", she said.

From Green Left Weekly, May 7, 2003.

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From GLW issue 536