Socialists: 'Migrants don't cause unemployment'
By Paul Benedek
PARRAMATTA — The Democratic Socialists will be standing two candidates in Sydney's western suburbs in the March 27 NSW state election.
Shane Bentley, 27, will contest the seat of Auburn, and Kylie Moon, 20, will run in Parramatta. They will focus on issues such as youth rights, public transport, unemployment, the environment and the under-funded western Sydney health system.
Per capita health spending in the west and south-west fringes of Sydney is only half that of the inner city. Nepean Hospital in Penrith has 2.1 beds per 1000 people, compared to 4.3 per 1000 in the east.
Western Sydney commuters pay more per kilometre for public transport than residents of other parts of the city. All bus companies operating in the west are privately owned, yet publicly subsidised.
Moon, the western Sydney organiser for the socialist youth organisation Resistance, told Green Left Weekly that exposing the major parties' "law and order" hype would be a central part of the campaign. "Labor and the Coalition whip up a frenzy about law and order while 'forgetting' to even mention the huge youth unemployment rates, increasing poverty and lack of social facilities that their pro-big business policies have caused.
"After the drive-by shooting at the Lakemba police station last year, Labor Premier Bob Carr, Police Commissioner Peter Ryan and the big business media blamed 'Lebanese gangs', without presenting any evidence. Police harassment of young Arab-Australians on the street shot up as a result."
Moon points out, "The Labor government has introduced laws used to harass young people, young migrants and Aborigines in particular. It is blaming young people for the problems its own policies and the profit-based economic system have created.
"More resources are needed to create jobs and improve education, so that schools are interesting places for young people."
Bentley, who provoked One Nation leader David Oldfield's infamous "cannibal" insult in front of the media's cameras in Newcastle last year, told Green Left: "Many people believe that the only racist party in Australia is Pauline Hanson's One Nation. But all the major parties — Labor, Liberal and Democrats — have helped to implement racist policies.
"Labor voted for most of Howard's 10-point assault on native title, and we haven't heard a peep from NSW Labor about their federal counterparts' attacks on migrants' and Aboriginal rights."
Auburn has a high proportion of residents of non-English-speaking background, and a 10% unemployment rate, one of the highest in Sydney. "It is farcical to blame migrants for unemployment", Bentley said. "It is government budget cuts and businesses sacking workers that cause unemployment."
The Democratic Socialists western Sydney election campaign will be launched on February 26. If you can help with the campaign, phone Kylie or Shane on (02) 9635 8449.