More than 500 people, representing a diverse range of community groups, came together for a “Save Our Legacy” rally on August 23.
Participating groups included Save Victoria Park, Save Woogaroo Forest and the Brisbane Flight Path Community Alliance (BFPCA) among many others.
It was a vibrant and colourful rally with many participants going to great efforts to create puppets, signs and visual displays about the issues they were raising.
A common thread running through many of the speeches is that governments are subject to “state capture” by vested interests against the community.
“We’re here to show [Liberal National premier David] Crisafulli they’re operating in a shonky disgraceful way,” rally chair Seal Chong Wah told the crowd.
Quandamooka, Kabi Kabi and Yugger Ugarabul elder, Gaja [Auntie] Kerry Charlton welcomed the crowd saying “if you care for First Nations culture you’re welcome here” and “you’re all custodians”.
She lamented the recent “devastation” of trees that were hundreds of years old and warned that authorities are trying to “brainwash” people into accepting their decisions.
“A signature on a piece of paper” doesn't change the protection that trees deserve, she said.
BFPCA representative Marcus Foth told the crowd that “state capture doesn't always look like someone paying a politician with money in a brown paper bag”. These days the corruption is more sophisticated, he said.
However, the result is the same: bulldozing community consultation when communities give the “wrong answer”.
He appealed to everyone to support any community under attack.
The Ecosocialism 2026 conference will have a session on “Save Barrambin, save Victoria Park” presented by Gaja Kerry and Seal Chong Wah.
