By Stephen O'Brien
NEWCASTLE — The Democratic Socialists will accept the challenge issued by Bob Baldwin, Liberal MP for the Hunter Valley seat of Paterson. Baldwin warned last month that if Resistance ran in his seat he would buck Liberal Party policy on putting One Nation last on his how-to-vote cards.
Resistance has endorsed anti-racist activist Alison Dellit as the Democratic Socialists' candidate for Paterson. Dellit announced her candidacy at the Newcastle anti-racism walkout on August 28. A sizable contingent of students from high schools in Maitland, part of Baldwin's electorate, was present.
Baldwin hopes that One Nation preferences will help him retain his marginal seat, which he holds by just 0.5%. One Nation is fielding a communications technician who works at the Williamstown RAAF base.
The electorate is a mixed urban and rural area north of Newcastle. It includes Port Stephens, Maitland, Raymond Terrace and farming areas around Paterson.
Baldwin claims the anti-Hanson high school protests organised by Resistance prove that "communism" is on the rise, and this is far worse than the ascendance of One Nation.
He admits One Nation leader David Oldfield, a former business partner, is a friend. He says he has received several invitations to join One Nation.
According to Dellit, Baldwin ought to address the concerns of young people rather than rant about communism. "The whole Hunter region, including Paterson, has a very high level of youth unemployment", Dellit said. "The attendance at the anti-racism walkouts shows that young people do not buy Hanson and Howard's arguments that unemployment is caused by migrants, Aborigines, single mothers or people who cannot read or write.
"Rather than work for the dole schemes, we need real solutions, such as a shorter working week with no loss in pay. This would share around the work and the benefits of technological advances."
Resistance has gained considerable profile in the media in the Hunter region recently. Accompanying a series of articles in the Newcastle Herald about the anti-racism protests, and an editorial page cartoon, there has been a running debate in the letters page between pro- and anti-Resistance readers.
Resistance has called a "Vote with your feet against racism" picket outside Baldwin's office, 11 Mitchell Drive, East Maitland, on Wednesday, September 30 at 1pm. Protesters will demand the repeal of the Native Title Amendment Act, closure of the Jabiluka uranium mine, full welfare rights for migrants, for a reversal of the cuts to immigration levels and an end to attacks on Aboriginal services.