Queenslanders 'spit out' Bligh's privatisation recipe

BRISBANE — Chants of "Queensland ports — not for sale! Queensland rail — not for sale" were accompanied by cars responding to "Honk against Bligh's sell-off" signs, as protesters picketed state parliament on November 10.

Organised by Save Our Public Assets (SOPA), the rally drew community activists, socialists, Greens and Electrical Trades Union (ETU) members opposed to the state Labor government's planned sale of $15 billion of public assets.

Premier Anna Bligh's approval rating has recently fallen to a 30%, the lowest for a premier since former premier Joh Bjelke Peterson 20 years ago.

Polls have consistently shown the sell-off is opposed by 85% of Queenslanders. "Bligh can appear on MasterChef, but what she is cooking up with this sell-off is poison to the people, and we are spitting it out!" Paul Benedek from SOPA told the rally.

The rally also heard from the Greens' Libby Connors, Delene Cuddihy from the Yungaba Action Group, and ETU state secretary Peter Simpson who applauded SOPA's work in building the campaign among the community.

The ETU, which has spearheaded the anti-privatisation campaign, provided a free sausage sizzle for rally goers

From GLW issue 818