At the turn of the 20th century, sport was merely a game. Participants even at the highest level were amateurs and administrators; albeit exclusively from the upper echelons of society, were happy with the ‘goodwill’ of being associated with games that brought joy to spectators seeking weekend relief from the working week.
By Andrew Calleja, Socialist Party Melbourne (more…)

On Monday January 28 the annual Big Day Out music festival was held at Melbourne’s Flemington Race Course. Organisers report that over 40,000 fans were drawn to the event, which was headlined by the most revolutionary rock band in the world - Rage Against the Machine.
By Kirk Leonard, Socialist Party Melbourne (more…)

This pamphlet is an important part of the growing debate in Australia, and worldwide, about the political representation of working people. With the steady shift to the right of both the major parties, it offers a strategy to create a new workers party to fill the political vacuum that exists on the left. This pamphlet was originally written in 2006 by Stephen Jolly and is now available on line. Copies are also available from the SP National Office for $4. (more…)

The Socialist Party recently received this letter from Anne Englehardt regarding the upcoming Grammy Awards. Anne talks about the fact that performers including the Foo Fighters and Beyonce had planned to attend the Grammys despite the fact that members of the Writers Guild of America (WGA) had planned to picket the event. The WGA represents some 10,500 film and television writers who are currently on strike in the US. (more…)

SP Newsletter No.199
This year marks the 30th anniversary of the Sydney Mardis Gras as part of the international Gay Solidarity Celebrations, which grew as a result of the Stonewall riots in New York. (more…)