Since the election of Tony Abbott’s Coalition government, Green Left Weekly has had a rush of new subscribers and many renewals. These people recognise the critical role Green Left Weekly will play in the trying period ahead.
One regular subscriber bought a subscription for her daughter. "She needs to know what is going on under this terrible man, Tony Abbott," the subscriber said when I took her call.
Her trepidation is shared by many — with good reason.
Already we have seen the Abbott government announce cuts that will affect some of the most vulnerable sections of our society. For example, the $42 million cut to Aboriginal Legal Services even while Aboriginal people are 15 times more likely to be imprisoned than other Australians.
Then there is the $1.5 billion cut to funding for much of the needed wage rise for 350,000 workers in the aged and child care sectors.
The big end of town has popped the expensive champagne. Gina Rinehart celebrating Barnaby Joyce's win in New England says it all. They are salivating at the prospect of billions of dollars more in tax cuts and subsidies from Abbott.
This is after the billions they have already got from previous governments, Labor and Coalition. Our collective experience is that the greed of the big corporations and the billionaires that own them is insatiable.
If you want to be part of the people's opposition to the coming free-for-all by the rich you need to stay in touch with the forces prepared to resist it. Green Left Weekly will seek out and link up these forces of resistance over the coming months. We promise you that you will read about anyone fighting back in Green Left Weekly and be able to link up with them.
So first we are asking all readers to consider taking out a subscription to Green Left Weekly now, if you do not have one already. If you have a subscription, please consider getting a gift subscription for friends, family and workmates.
But we also need money to continue reporting — and helping build — the resistance to Abbott’s attacks.
Over the past month, many of our strongest supporters have been busy trying to inject some real political issues into an election campaign dominated by personality and spectacle rather than policy. In the course of this, our fighting fund appeal has lagged.
So far this year we have raised $122,475. We need to raise another $30,000 at least by the end of this month to catch up.
We can catch up with your help. If you haven't already, please check the calendar for upcoming Green Left Weekly fundraising events in your city.
Our readers are our most loyal supporters and we rely on you to keep fighting.
Perhaps you and your friends can hold a fundraising event to help Green Left Weekly. It doesn’t have to be big — any contribution counts.
Immediately, you can donate online to our fighting fund.
Direct deposits can also be made to Greenleft, Commonwealth Bank, BSB 062-006, Account No. 00901992.
Otherwise, you can send a cheque or money order to PO Box 515, Broadway NSW 2007 or donate on the toll-free line at 1800 634 206 (within Australia).