By Tim E. Stewart
BRISBANE — A lively public speak-out against the racist and reactionary policies of One Nation was held here on June 19. The Democratic Socialists' action in busy Queen Street Mall was the first community response to the electoral success of the right-wing political outfit in the June 13 Queensland election.
Around 100 people heard speakers condemn One Nation's "solutions" to social and economic problems. The speakers explained that the politics of Hanson's party are based on turning the blame on Aboriginal people, migrant communities and welfare recipients.
The rally was chaired by Graham Matthews, Democratic Socialist candidate in the recent election.
The speakers included Jorge Rodriguez from the Migrant Workers Resource Centre, Karen Fletcher from the Prisoners' Legal Service, Lynda Hansen from the Committee in Solidarity with Latin America and the Caribbean, Susan Austin from the Jabiluka Action Group, Brian Webb from the International Socialist Organisation, East Timor solidarity activist John Tomlinson and Chinese community activist Richard Seeto.
In the middle of the speak-out, police confiscated the megaphone. Matthews continued the speeches, saying, "The mainstream media are happy to give Hanson and One Nation all the free publicity and the platform they want, and yet when we organise a public speak-out, they try to shut us down. Well, they won't."
Sam Wainwright from the Democratic Socialists said the fight against One Nation's policies was really about fighting for our rights. "John Howard is sugar-coating Hanson because she provides the cover for all the attacks the Liberals are trying to implement", he said.
The ISO's view that One Nation meetings should be shut down was criticised from the platform, as were arguments to "ignore Hanson and she'll go away". Her party's strong result at the elections indicate that a broadly organised political response is required.
There can't be a passive approach to racism, said Matthews. "We need to take our opposition onto the streets and into the electoral arena. We need to challenge the prevailing myth that there is no alternative to the economic policies proposed by Liberal and Labor governments. We need to build a real opposition based on socialist solutions to our economic problems."
After a virtual media blackout of all the progressive minor parties before the election, the Democratic Socialists were described by ABC morning radio and other mainstream media outlets as the first group to organise against One Nation. The speak-out was the beginning of the federal election campaign for the Democratic Socialists, who will be running Graham Matthews in the seat of Brisbane.
A forum organised by the Democratic Socialists will be held on Wednesday, June 24. A rally under the theme "Unity Against Racism, Rally against One Nation" has also been announced.