By Alex Bainbridge
NEWCASTLE — Pauline Hanson's visit here on May 30 is attracting a lot of attention. A call for a peaceful protest demonstration outside Hanson's public meeting was issued on May 17 by the Newcastle Anti-Racist Alliance (NARA). Other activists are organising a "Cultural Stomp" in nearby Civic Park with music, food, speakers and multicultural displays. This event will clash with the demonstration and Hanson's meeting.
Organisers of the stomp announced at their May 16 meeting that publicity for the stomp was not to mention the words "political", "protest" or "Pauline Hanson". They also made it clear that anyone who organises a protest action outside Hanson's meeting "is not part of Cultural Stomp".
NARA member Geoff Payne says it is disappointing that the stomp is not being organised on a political basis and that it clashes with the protest action.
"NARA is totally supportive of anti-racist cultural activities", Payne said. "However, there is a time and a place for these. Pauline Hanson's racist crusade is not something that we can simply coexist with. We need to take up the political challenge to defeat Hanson's agenda and the reactionary forces behind her."
Payne said it was particularly disappointing that Newcastle Trades Hall is throwing its weight behind the Cultural Stomp and not organising or supporting a protest rally: "Pauline Hanson's racism threatens the unity of the working class and progressive movements that is necessary to stop the bosses' austerity drive".
Payne, a BHP worker playing a leading role in the campaign against the steelworks closure, says there is some support among BHP workers for Hanson's views. "The unions need to take up the fight against Hanson and her cronies if we are to avoid racist divisions in the work force."
Hanson has faced very large demonstrations in other cities, and there is a strong sentiment in Newcastle that, here too, people must publicly condemn her views.
"This sentiment has to be organised and mobilised to maximise the political impact of the struggle against racism", Payne said, "and trade union support would make a critical difference".