Socialists reject work for dole for Brisbane City Council

Socialists reject work for dole for Brisbane City Council

Socialists reject work for dole for Brisbane City Council

By Bill Mason

BRISBANE — "We are standing against the two major parties on a platform of People Before Profits", Coral Wynter said in announcing the Democratic Socialist campaign for the March 15 Brisbane City Council elections.

Wynter is standing for the Democratic Socialists for the ward of Dutton Park, while Kathy Newnam is running for Central ward.

In a statement later reported in the Brisbane Courier-Mail, Kathy Newnam, herself currently unemployed, said on February 16, "We challenge both Labor and Liberal parties to totally repudiate any BCC involvement in implementing a 'work for the dole' scheme.

"If Howard goes ahead with his 'lottery of forced labour', it will probably be carried out largely through local councils and other community organisations.

"The Democratic Socialists condemn this bogus scheme as a cover-up for the federal government's failure to create real jobs."

In their election manifesto, Newnam and Wynter call "For a genuine alternative to Labor and the Liberals!"

"The coming to power of the Borbidge Coalition government a year ago has meant an all-out attack on the living conditions and rights of working people in Queensland", the manifesto begins.

"Now, Liberal candidate for Brisbane City Council mayor Bob Mills wants a 'Jeff Kennett-style' administration for our city ...

"The Liberals must be decisively rejected in the BCC election on March 15.

"But the ALP under Wayne Goss in Queensland over the previous six years failed miserably to implement progressive economic and social policies, became increasingly alienated from the people, and was thrown out of office as a result ...

"Mayor Jim Soorley and his Labor team have also refused to tackle head-on the key issues of our urban crisis in Brisbane: public transport, pollution and environmental degradation, affordable housing, urban renewal, toxic waste and provision of adequate public facilities."

The socialists call for "an improvement on the policies of Jim Soorley and the ALP, not the worse option represented by the Liberals.

"We need to begin now to build a genuine, progressive political alternative to the big business-dominated two-party system, based on policies aimed at serving the interests of the majority: Putting People Before Profits!"

For more information on the Democratic Socialist campaign, phone (07)3254 0565 or contact the campaign office at 29 Terrace Street, New Farm 4005.