BY ARUN PRADHAN
MELBOURNE — "We need a formation like Socialist Alliance to take the battle of refugee rights to the streets", Friends of the Earth Melbourne coordinator Cam Walker told a dinner and launch of the Gellibrand Socialist Alliance election campaign on August 31. Walker told of his relief when he saw a series of actions on the news initiated by Socialist Alliance.
The celebration was attended by more than 60 people, including Victorian secretary of the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union Craig Johnston, several refugees, students and staff from Victoria University and a large contingent from the Latin American community.
Jorge Jorquera, Socialist Alliance candidate for the federal seat of Gellibrand, was given a rousing cheer when he told the audience that fighting to close the Maribyrnong and all other detention centres was the main focus of his campaign. He encouraged people to participate in a day of mass letter boxing to build the October 3 protests against the Commonwealth Business Forum.
Jorquera will stage a three-day hunger strike and protest at Maribyrnong detention centre on the weekend of September 21-23. Phone (03) 9318 6065 for more information.