SP Newsletter No.187
On Thursday September 26 Melbourne University will host the first leg of the ‘Safeguarding Australia Homeland Security Summit’. This summit is organised by the Research Network for a Secure Australia (RNSA) which is a body funded by the federal government and supported by university research & private industry leaders.

The Safeguarding Australia summit has been established in a bid to develop and display new defence & surveillance technologies, alongside discussion on ‘Muslim population growth in Australia’ and ‘terrorism today’. In reality this conference is aimed at facilitating a climate of fear and the further scapegoating of the Muslim community. It is a conference that will discuss the further winding back of democratic rights and civil liberties.

In recent years both federal and state governments have brought in a raft of repressive legislation aimed at cracking down on dissent. Bit by bit the bosses and their representatives in the Liberal and Labor parties are trying to turn Australia into a police state.

This was most clearly seen at the recent APEC summit where the NSW state Labor government brought in one of the most draconian pieces of legislation ever seen in this country. The apparent aim of the laws was to ‘protect’ the APEC delegates. As was proven by events, there was never any threat to the APEC delegates and the legislation was used to intimidate anti-capitalist and anti-war protesters and to stifle dissent.

Unless we fight back the special APEC legislation will be seen as the norm for future rallies and demonstrations. This type legislation goes hand in hand with other pieces of legislation like the ‘anti-terror’ laws and the Work Choices laws. As if these laws didn’t make it hard enough to organise Howard has recently introduced new ‘secondary boycott’ legislation that explicitly allows small business’ to sue unions and community organisations (like Union Solidarity and UNITE) for losses.

On top of the Work Choices laws Howard has removed the rights of building & construction workers to the most basic of democratic rights. The Australian Building and Construction Commissions (ABCC) attacks have limited the right to silence, the right to organise in a union, and the right to strike.

These laws effectively force workers into a position where they face imprisonment if they choose not to reveal decisions or discussions of union meetings in ABCC interrogation. Should these workers wish to tell their families about this ABCC interrogation, they face imprisonment.

The Socialist party along with other groups and individuals organised in the Alliance for Civil Disobedience Coordination (ACDC) is fighting back against these laws and the shift towards a police state. We will be attempting to shut down the opening night dinner for the Safeguarding Australia summit. We urge all other people concerned with the defence of civil liberties to join us! See the details of the blockade below -

No dinner for big brother - Shut down the Safeguarding Australia Summit!
Through civil disobedience and solidarity, we can fight back against repressive laws & draconian legislation that further threaten to turn Australia into a police state.

Join the blockade 6pm Thursday 27 September at University House, Melbourne University (Tin Alley, enter via Elgin street end Carlton)

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 37 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 the IR laws, world economy, Australia Post dispute, NT Emergency Response Bill, public education, The United Nations, East Timor and a report from our councillor in Yarra.

SP 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 anti-capitalist and socialist politics. Check out our site here

Regional Activity

Victoria

SP calls on all members and supporters to attend the workers rights rally called by the Building Industry Group unions in Victoria. Meet other SP members at Trades Hall on the corner of Lygon and Victoria Streets Carlton South at 9.30am on Wednesday 26th September 2007. The rally will march through the city to Flinders Street.

After the rally attend the SP post rally public meeting @ Trades Hall 1pm

Speakers include Joan Doyle, State Secretary of posties union, who will tell of the campaign to stop Australia Post replacing 17 fulltime workers with 24 casuals on 4 hour shifts and the unions’ call for the ALP to pledge to reverse these cuts if they win the election Also Anthony Main, Secretary Unite, will speak on the crisis in the union movement and getting prepared for unions to fight under a Rudd government.
Organised by the Socialist Party. All Welcome 1pm Trades Hall, corner of Lygon and Victoria Sts, Carlton South (first floor – use Victoria St entrance)

The SP Melbourne Branch will not be meeting this week due to the IR rally and public meeting during the day. Meetings as usual recommence next week 7pm at Trades Hall.

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 –

Sweden: Thousands on anti-government protests across the country
Click here

US: Anti-war activist runs against top house Democrat
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Venezuela: Workers’ occupy Ministry of Labour offices
Click here

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
++61 3 9639 9111

‘Workers of the world unite – you’ve got nothing to lose but your chains’