Public works key to jobs, say socialists
By Bill Mason
BRISBANE — "A large-scale program of public works, including schools, child-care centres, public transport and leisure facilities, is the key to creating thousands of new jobs", the Democratic Socialist campaign asserted on May 22, in response to the Labor and Coalition debate about unemployment in the first days of the Queensland state election, due on June 13.
Much of the major party discussion in the campaign so far has been around ALP leader Peter Beattie's pledge that a Labor government would reduce unemployment to 5% within five years.
In a media release announcing the Democratic Socialists' state campaign, Graham Mathews, the candidate for Brisbane Central, said, "Bringing unemployment right down, even below a rate of 5%, is quite realistic if we completely change our political priorities.
"The Democratic Socialists advocate a series of measures to seriously tackle unemployment: public works, a 35-hour work week with no loss in pay, to share the available work around, and a new tax system which taxes the big companies and the wealthy."
Along with Mathews, the Democratic Socialists are running Coral Wynter for the seat of South Brisbane.
Other policies in the socialists' platform include: "End privatisation of public assets. Retain key enterprises, such as electricity, water and ports, in government hands, under public control", and "End cuts to education, health, public transport and social welfare. Substantial rises in funding to services for those on low incomes."
"We also call for repeal of the state Workplace Relations Act, and that anti-union spy organisation the Employment Advocate", Mathews added.
For more information about the Democratic Socialist campaign, contact (07) 3254 0565.