ADELAIDE — Stephen Bull reports that around 400 people rallied in Victoria Square on April 30 as part of the city's annual May Day celebrations. This year's march celebrated the victory of the ANC in South Africa and the end of white minority rule in that country.
Amid much chanting, ANC representative Algernon van der Hoeven led the march to Parliament House, where the crowd was treated to stirring songs of struggle and unity by the Trade Union Choir, including the new South African national anthem.
Marg Sexton, secretary of the Public Service Union,, spoke about workers' rights and conditions and the centenary of women's suffrage in SA being celebrated this year.
Sybil Wakefield, from the Adelaide ANC Solidarity Group, called for continued solidarity with South Africa. Other speakers included Sally Biddle from the Anti-Racism Alliance.
BRISBANE — Abortion rights and other social issues were a major feature of this year's march, attended by some 5000 people on the May 2 Labor Day holiday, writes Bill Mason.
Labor Premier Wayne Goss was lobbied by women pressing for abortion law repeal, while a pro-abortion demonstration took place in front of a stall opposing a woman's right to choose.
Several unions mobilised large contingents around defence of jobs and conditions, while prominent chants of "Unemployment, unacceptable", came from the Democratic Socialist Party, Resistance and Young Christian Workers groups. After the march, a concert and festival took place in Albert Park.
More than 100 people attended a May Day toast at the Resistance Centre later that afternoon, focusing on labour movement and international solidarity. Rafael Pacheco from the Salvadoran community and Nora Richardson from Australian Aid for Ireland delivered greetings.
Phillipa Stanford, representing the DSP and Resistance, spoke of the significance of May Day in a period of attacks on workers' rights and conditions, but also stressed the importance of the victory just won by the people of South Africa for the world progressive movement.
DARWIN — Four hundred people marched on Monday, May 2, to celebrate May Day here. Contingents from the East Timor community, Community Aid Abroad, the Environment Centre, the Women's Embassy, Ruby-Gaea House, the Noise Abatement Group, Resistance, the ALP, ANC supporters group and the NT Greens marched alongside labour organisations.
PERTH — The traditional march, held in Fremantle on May 1, brought around 2000 people into the streets. The theme this year focused on the anti-working class policies of the Court Liberal government, says Mick Houlbrook.
There was also a celebration of the ANC victory in South Africa. This was also the theme of the highly successful May Day dinner held at the Teachers' Union building the night before. Organised by the Democratic Socialist Party and Resistance, the dinner gathered around 150 people to eat, drink and show solidarity.
The keynote speaker was Greens (WA) Senator Christabel Chamarette, who spoke of the need for unity of progressive-minded people. Other speakers were from Campaign Against Racial Exploitation (WACARE), South African Solidarity (WASAS), the DSP and the labour paper Solidarity. A particular success on the night was the band Sundiata.
WOLLONGONG — Sean Moysey reports that more 250 trade unionists and progressive activists marched through the main streets on Saturday, April 30, as a part of Illawarra May Day events. The previous evening 100 people attended the May Day toast and ball at Heininger Hall in Dapto.
Themes this year included issues raised by "the Year of the Family" and ongoing attacks on the south coast health system. Maritime workers and coal miners headed the march with activists and citizens involved in defending Illawarra hospitals.
Ironworker delegate and Democratic Socialist Party member Robynne Murphy addressed the march. Murphy recently was an international observer of El Salvador's first attempt at democratic elections since the peace agreement in that country.
Murphy described how the right wing Arena ruling party participated in massive electoral fraud. Contrasting the historic elections in South Africa to the sabotage of elections in El Salvador, Murphy emphasised the need for all progressives to develop a truly internationalist outlook.