SP Newsletter No.177
The following is a statement produced by SP this week in response to Howard’s attacks on Aboriginal communities.
The Howard governments “national emergency” plan to ban alcohol and pornography in Aboriginal communities will not go one ounce of the way towards addressing the massive social problems faced by Aboriginal people.

Howard announced the bans after an inquiry found child sex abuse in several indigenous communities in the Northern Territory. The inquiry also suggested that an injection of funds go into health and social services in Aboriginal communities but Howard has decided to ignore this part of the report.

Instead he has announced a raft of other measures including in effect occupying large sections of land and imposing a virtual martial law. Alcohol will be banned for six months, pornography will be made illegal, Aboriginal children will be forcibly medically examined, and welfare payments will only be paid if children attend school.

He will also move to half welfare payments in general with the remaining portions being transferred to food and clothing vouchers. Other aspects of the plan include forcing people into work through a “work for the dole” program. Police officers and army troops will take over camps to ensure these measures are adhered to.

The fact that we will have a military presence in Aboriginal communities to back up the police force is almost unparalleled in Australian history. It is now not only the case that Australian troops are used in the occupation of Iraq and Afghanistan but they will also be used to occupy Aboriginal land in the Northern Territory! This naked use of power shows the true role of the state. Howard is prepared to go to extreme lengths to push through his neo-liberal agenda and the use of the military on this occasion is just one aspect of that.

Howard’s plan is in effect a massive land grab. He will override several pieces of legislation in order to take over land through five year leases. At the same time, the existing permit system, which allows indigenous communities to restrict access to their lands, will be scrapped. This is important from the point of view of the big business interests that Howard represents. Big mining companies in particular have a keen interest in seeing Aboriginal land rights slowly eroded.

It is not the case that Howard has a new found compassion for the plight of Aboriginal people; instead he is attempting to use Aboriginal people as a political football. In the short term he sees this as a way to grab votes ahead of federal election later this year. This plan is nothing more than a racist attack on the most exploited section of people in Australian society.

The roots to the problems facing Aboriginal people are social. Australia is ranked as one of the worst wealthy nations at improving the health of indigenous people. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders on average die nearly 20 years younger than other Australians, and infant mortality is three times higher.

Most Australian people are sickened at the problems that Aboriginal people are forced to face and in fact most support measures to address these problems, but Howard is attempting to divert the blame away from successive state and federal governments. It is a total myth that millions of dollars have been pumped into Aboriginal welfare. In fact a recent report stated that only 70 cents is spent per head on the health of indigenous people for every $1 spent on the rest of the population.

These attacks on democratic rights, on welfare recipients and on land rights should be opposed by all working people. This is just the thin edge of the wedge, if Howard is allowed to get away with this in indigenous communities in the Northern Territory similar attacks will soon be waged against other vulnerable sections of the working class.

The capitalist system and its representatives in the major parties have no interest in seriously assisting Aboriginal communities. They have a view that says indigenous people are a burden on the system as many don’t conform to the ‘norms’ of capitalist society. They would much rather that Aboriginal people were assimilated into white society then they could more effectively exploit them as workers and dig up their land to sell off their natural resources.

Disgustingly Kevin Rudd has announced that the Labor Party fully supports Howard’s plan. At every turn Labor continues to prove that it is no friend of ordinary people. Rudd parrots Howard on almost every issue and if a Labor government is elected later this year the differences will be more of style than of substance. A Rudd Labor government will be as incapable as Howard at addressing Aboriginal issues.

In contrast the Socialist Party stands totally opposed to this new round of attacks on Aboriginal people. We will fight to strengthen the links between the workers movement and aboriginal people as the best way to combat all of the neo-liberal attacks Howard is waging against indigenous and non-indigenous people.

SP is fighting for -

- Police and army officers out of Aboriginal communities now!
- Full welfare rights for all indigenous people - No to “work for the dole”.
- Money for health, education and social services, not more police.
- Land rights and a democratically planned strategy to overcome the social problems of indigenous Australia.

Socialist Party National Conference

SP will be holding its National Conference at Trades Hall in Melbourne on August 3 & 4. It will open on the Friday night with a public meeting titled ‘Where is Australia going?’ It will feature a range of speakers including SP members and labour movement leaders. On the Saturday morning we will also have a session open to the public on World Relations. This will also feature SP members including Denise Dudley who will be recently returned from Venezuela! On the Saturday afternoon we will discuss business and building the party.

On the Saturday evening we will be organising a trivia night fundraiser featuring Australia’s most famous (and funniest) left wing comedian, Corrine Grant. All proceeds will go to the campaign to save St Andrews Kindergarten and the Atherton Gardens public housing estate.

We encourage all SP supporters to attend both the public events at the conference and the fundraiser. SP members should ensure they book the weekend in now as it will be the most important meeting we have all year. Members from interstate travelling to Melbourne should contact the National Office soon to discuss assistance with transport costs.

Get on the ‘Red Buses’ to APEC

SP will be organising a fleet of ‘Red Buses to APEC’ from Melbourne to Sydney on September 7-9. We are taking expressions of interest for seats now. If you support the APEC protests against the neo-liberal heavy weights, and can’t make it in person to the protests, you can sponsor a place by donation. In the lead up to the event we will also be holding regular organising meetings. For more information or to put your name down for a seat call our National Office on 03 9639 9111

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

SP subscriber List

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 34 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, industrial relations, public education, Tamil arrests, climate change, Powderfinger, Scotland, a report from our councillor in Yarra, and a centre page spread on the1998 water front dispute.

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 be discussing the situation in Ireland. The guest speaker will be Laura Fitzgerald who is a member of the Socialist Party in Ireland and is currently visiting Australia.

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 –

In preparation for the Melbourne Branch meeting this week read

Southern Ireland: Economic storm clouds gather over new government
Click here

Northern Ireland: New assembly will not solve economic and social problems
Click here

See also –
SP Ireland (South)
SP Ireland (North)

Get Active - Join the fight back, Get Militant - Join the Socialist Party
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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