SP Newsletter No.219
The honeymoon with the Federal Labor government may not yet be over, but the working class and Kevin Rudd are sleeping in separate beds!

There is still a feeling of great relief amongst most ordinary people to be finally rid of the Howard government. There was widespread support for the early progressive steps that Rudd took. For example the apology to the Stolen Generations, the signing of the Kyoto Treaty, the opposition to Japanese whaling and the promise to rip up Work Choices.

However there is growing concern at many of Rudd’s other policies. The Federal budget gave more money to private schools than to universities for the first time in Australian history. The massive budget surplus was spent on tax cuts for the rich while funding for TAFE colleges and apprenticeship programmes were cut.

Nothing serious has been introduced by Rudd to deal with climate change, except more money for ‘clean coal’ initiatives. Many environmentalists see ‘clean coal’ more as a public relations exercise by the coal industry than a real way to halt carbon emissions.

It also seems clear that the key parts of Howard’s Work Choices legislation will remain, as well as the anti-democratic Australian Building Construction Commission.

What’s the conclusion to be drawn? The Socialist Party believes that the welcome progressive changes of Rudd have been on symbolic issues, while on concrete issues the government is as pro-capitalist as the Coalition. Both ALP and Coalition governments put the demands of footloose capital before the needs of ordinary people.

There is also a worrying trend towards a secular moral conservatism by Rudd and some ALP State governments as best seen in the Henson photograph controversy, the 2am lockout in Victoria, and the cynical and counterproductive tax on alcopops.

With interest rates staying high and prices rising rapidly, there is a growing unease about the future amongst working and middle class people.

The Socialist Party is campaigning for a clear democratic socialist alternative to capitalism and the common programme it forces on all governments. For this to be effective we need a new party for ordinary people in Australia, a party that unites all those individuals, unions, and community organisations that want a new direction in Australian politics.

We encourage all our readers to join the Socialist Party and help us build both a socialist voice and a new mass workers’ party in Australia.

Action against BHP Billiton in Melbourne!

On the last day of school term protest for real action on climate change!
Rally at the headquarters of Australia’s biggest polluter – BHP Billiton.
Say NO to the climate criminals! Meet at 4pm Friday 27th June @ 180 Lonsdale St City. For more info contact 96399111.

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 get rid of the capitalist system. We fight for socialism - a system that will bring an end to wars, poverty and environmental destruction. For more info contact our National Office on 03 9639 9111.

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Become a supporter of SP by subscribing to our monthly newspaper ‘The Socialist’. It only costs $20 per year or $10 concession and you will receive our paper delivered to your door every month. You will also receive our email newsletter every week and you will know that you are supporting an organisation that is at the fore of fighting against the capitalist system. To subscribe phone 03 9639 9111 or email our National Office.

The June edition is out now! Pick it up from one of our street stalls!

Socialist Party regional activity-

Victoria

To find out more about SP in Melbourne contact Anthony on 0396399111.

New South Wales

To find out more about SP in Sydney contact Gary on 0297287727.

To find out more about SP in Newcastle contact Samantha on 0249681545.

Western Australia

To find out more about SP in Perth contact John on 0894020728.

Rest of Australia

To find out more about SP anywhere else in Australia contact our National Office on 0396399111.

News links just a click away –

Poland: Thousands join ‘Hands off the Labour Code!’ demonstration
http://www.socialistworld.net/eng/2008/06/23polana.html

Greece: CWI in Greece votes to join SYRIZA
http://www.socialistworld.net/eng/2008/06/23greeca.html

Israel: Tel-Aviv rail redundancies protest
http://www.socialistworld.net/eng/2008/06/24israea.html

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 the CWI anywhere in Australia, or the world, call +61 3 9639 9111 or email our National Office.

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

http://www.sp.org.au
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