SP Newsletter No.173
In perhaps the worst kept secret in Australian politics Greg Combet, the current leader of the Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU), has announced his decision to leave his job and stand for a federal parliamentary seat as a Labor candidate. The ALP executive has made the decision to ignore the pre-selection process and install Combet as the preferred candidate despite objections from the party rank and file.

Combet will stand in the safe Labor seat of Charlton, in the Maitland area of NSW. This seat is currently held by Kelly Hoare. Combet will have to move into the area as he currently lives in Melbourne. Embarrassingly, Combet was unable to name the main street in the area when he was asked by journalists earlier this month. Hoare for her part has threatened to claim ‘unfair dismissal’.

Hoare heard the news about her seat through the media and the local party members were not informed until after the decision. This and other examples of celebrities replacing sitting MPs demonstrates the contempt in which the Labor Party holds its own members and MPs.

At a May Day rally in Newcastle, Combet stated that he felt he could better fight for worker’s rights in parliament than as a representative of the ACTU. Combet has led the ACTU campaign against Work Choices which has included advertising, picnics and a few token rallies. The main thrust of the campaign has been to base the union movements fight on getting Labor elected ‘to save workers rights’.

If the might of the union movement had been used in an industrial campaign of stop works and general strikes the legislation would be dead by now. Instead workers have had to put up with losses of pay, conditions and poor leadership. While better than the current Work Choices legislation the Labor IR policy maintains bans on the right to strike and they have already caved in to big businesses on many other issues. In fact they appear to have started their own re-election campaign by sacking one of their own workers – good luck to the rest of us.

Join the Socialist Party

If you agree with what you have read in our newsletter or on our website you should consider joining SP. The Socialist Party has branches in Melbourne, Sydney, Newcastle and Perth as well as members and supporters in all other states. We are involved in trade union work and student work. We also run community, anti-war and environmental campaigns. But most of all we want to build a party that will fight to overthrow the capitalist system. We fight for socialism - a system that will bring an end to wars, poverty and environmental destruction. For more information about joining in your area contact the SP National Office. 0396399111

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Become a supporter of SP today! Join our subscribers list - only $20 per year or $10 concession. You will receive our newspaper ‘The Socialist’, delivered to your door every month, and our email newsletter every week. You will also know that you are supporting a party that is at the fore of the fight back against Howard and against capitalism. Contact the SP National Office now on 0396399111 to join the list.

The Socialist

Issue 33 of SP’s monthly newspaper ‘The Socialist’ is out now! Readers can pick up a copy at our regular street stalls, from our National Office or by joining the SP subscriber’s list. This month’s paper features articles on APEC, nuclear power, Rudd vs Cameron, Melbourne University, Onesteel, Venezuela, a report from our councillor in Yarra, and a centre page spread on the public housing.

SP now on My Space!

My Space is an online forum for networking. You can use it to chat, share photos, videos and journals. SP is using it to promote our party and meet people interested in socialist politics. Check out our site here

Regional Activity

Victoria

The SP Melbourne Branch meets every Wednesday 7pm at Trades Hall in Carlton South. 1st Floor Corner of Lygon & Victoria Streets. This week the Melbourne branch will host a public meeting titled East Timor in crisis: Australia’s imperialist adventure gone wrong? Speakers include Ifemenio an East Timorese activist and SP Councillor Stephen Jolly. All Welcome.

New South Wales

To find out more info or to join SP in Sydney contact Gary - 02 9728 7727

To find out more info or to join SP in Newcastle contact Samantha - 02 4968 1545

Western Australia

To find out more info or to join SP in Perth contact John on – 08 9402 0728

Please note childcare is available at all SP meetings but only by prior arrangement please call ahead first.

News links just a click away –

Has France moved to the right?
By Karl Debbaut,
Click here

Bosses’ representatives head for G8 summit
By Sarah Sachs-Eldridge
Click here

Scotland: SNP in power – populism and cuts
By Phillip Stott
Click here

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The Socialist Party is the Australian section of the Committee for a Workers’ International (CWI).
To contact or join the SP or CWI anywhere in Australia or the world call our National Office
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