October column of SP Councillor, Stephen Jolly.
There has been a raging debate in the Victorian media about public drinking by Aboriginal people on Smith St, Collingwood. A non-incident at a art gallery opening was turned by ‘bourgeois racists’ (as I called them in the Sunday Age) into a witch-hunt against the few remaining Aboriginal people in central Melbourne.The Socialist Party does not condone anti-social behaviour. We also understand that there are serious social problems in the area thanks to years of cuts by rightwing governments. Drug use, alcohol use, mental illness and anti-social behaviour can erupt in these circumstances. We need jobs, more public housing, better support for people with addictions, and more resources for the public health system. Only the SP has clear policies for this. Banning public drinking only shifts the problem elsewhere (which is what some want!) - it doesn’t deal with the social problems itself.

Industrial issues

Industrial relations was debated at the September Council meeting. The ALP and right wing independent majority voted down an SP attempt to limit Council contracts to companies with union agreements. This was one month after the same Councillors piously voted to condemn Howard’s IR changes! The Greens refused to actively support the motion ignoring the message in the leaflets they distribute at union rallies.

I have called two public meetings this month (along with the other two Councillors in my ward) to fight the threatened closure of ‘The Cottages’ by the Brotherhood of St Laurence. This centre provides support for families from war torn areas, plus other services such as a toy library. SP wants the State Government to step in and save the service - it should be run by the state, not private religious organisations. This meeting will be the start of a campaign to fight a string of lost services in Yarra as well as demanding great help for the public housing estates where unemployment is 95% - possibly the highest in the advanced capitalist world.

Building the profile of socialism

In September I was interviewed on the Conversation Hour on Jon Faine’s high-rating ABC radio show. The discussion was quite widespread; from socialism to Stalinism, our Council policies to my political influences and family background. The interview has led to several phone calls to our office from people wanting more information about SP.