Inala socialist candidate defends public housing

Elizabeth Stewart, Brisbane

Adrian Skerritt, the Socialist Alliance's candidate for the seat of Inala in the February 7 Queensland elections, has called a "public auction" of the electoral office of local Labor MP and primary industries minister Henry Palazszchuk on January 31.

The aim of the call is to convey the message that Labor is up for sale to corporations, like Boeing, Virgin and Liberty Homes.

Over the last four years, more than 400 state-owned houses in the Inala area have been sold off to real estate agents like Liberty Homes, which have made a massive profit out of the deal. The homes have been sold off in bulk for around $10,000, and then re-sold privately for more than $100,000.

The Socialist Alliance has been campaigning for several months in Inala against the sell-off of public housing. "Voters of Inala have been loyal to Labor for decades, and the ALP has betrayed this loyalty", said Skerritt.

Another significant feature of the socialist election campaign in Inala has been the issue of Aboriginal stolen wages. Many of the claimants live in the Inala region.

Skerritt has been doorknocking the electorate, and found ready support for a petition on the public housing issue.

One Nation is running a strong campaign in Inala. One Nation candidate George Pugh has been described in the local press as "the only serious threat to Labor". All Socialist Alliance election material stresses, "Don't vote racist, put One Nation last."

From Green Left Weekly, February 4, 2004.

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From GLW issue 569