Socialist Party Australia - SP Newsletter No.90

Includes regional activity, what’s on, news links and more....

The week that was

Just when Howard thought the Schapelle Corby affair was starting to fade away and he could get back to building political and economic ties in Asia, Chen Yonglin steps onto the scene. Chen a middle-ranking Chinese diplomat remains in hiding after quitting his post at the Chinese consulate-general in Sydney on May 26. He has sought to remain in Australia, claiming he will be persecuted if he returns to China.

This has put Howard in a very difficult position especially in the middle of negotiating a free trade agreement with China and highlights the precarious position Howard has gotten himself into in the region. At the moment the Howard government has to balance between its vital and growing trade links with China and its role as US deputy sheriff in the region. His inability to sort out this case quickly shows his desperate attempts to avoid any diplomatic blunders in the next period.

This week Kim Beazley vowed to roll back Howard's workplace 'revolution', guaranteeing industrial relations will be a key battleground at the next federal election. In his first significant undertaking since reclaiming the Labor leadership, Mr Beazley promised yesterday to fight for a "co-operative and progressive" system with a legitimate role for unions. He did not go into a great deal of detail when he proclaimed this at the NSW ALP state conference/circus and was especially quiet on the question of whether the ALP would abolish individual contracts.

The Socialist Party is extremely doubtful that the ALP will in fact roll back all or any of Howard's counter reforms if and when they return to office. We are still waiting for the ALP in Victoria to honour their election promises of industrial manslaughter laws and safe injecting facilities. We are however not holding our breath.

Regional Activity

Victoria

SP members in VIC are building for UNITE’s Youth march for real jobs and justice on June the 24th. In particular leafleting schools to build for the high school strike on the day. If you can help leafleting or want to get involved with UNITE.

This week the Northern Branch will host the Victorian aggregate meeting. Thursday 7.00 pm @ 3CR, 21 Smith St Fitzroy. This weeks topic – Exactly what is Howard planning to do once he controls the senate?

City Branch street stall every Saturday at Queen Victoria Market Cnr Victoria & Elizabeth St City 11.30am All welcome. For more info or to join SP in central Melbourne

Northern Branch street stall every Saturday in Smith Street Collingwood outside Safeway supermarket 12.00pm. All welcome For more info or to join SP in Northern Melbourne

The Socialist Party in the City of Yarra

This Tuesday (14th June at 7.30pm Richmond Town Hall, Bridge Rd, Richmond) is the most important Yarra City Council meeting so far this year.

Residents will attend in numbers to:
Look at what the 2005/06 Budget has to say about the issues that concern them and what the rate, fee and fine increases are to be. Is there an alternative to the right-wing budgets of the Council majority? Read the SP literature on this available on the night and soon in your letterbox.
The child care crisis. Children and parents and carers and child care supporters will attend to force this crisis onto the Council's agenda. We need action not talk, surveys and sub-committees.
Banco in Smith St. What will be Council's tactics at next Fridays VCAT hearing? How can we best get the Minister to call-in this over-development?
Victoria Park. What is going on? Are the walls coming down or not - let the community know the truth.
Footpath trading. When are we to get our second footpath trading officer. Residents are fed up with excuses, robbing peter to pay paul tactics of senior management, and cost-cutting measures instead of providing resources to this key area.
New Code of Conduct for Councillors. Let's debate this latest attempt to stiffle dissent on Council.
Let's continue to build participatory democracy on Yarra City Council! Come along and have your say. Don't leave these important decisions to the bureaucrats and Councillors alone

Support 3CR - Support rank and file unionism, donate to the 'On The Picket Line' show during 3CR's annual radiothon or ring in during the special radiothon show Sunday 19th June 10am

New South Wales

Western Australia

Please note childcare is available at all SP meetings but only by prior arrangement please call ahead first.

News Links just a click away

Britain- UNISON NEC elections
The Socialist Party group on public sector union UNISON's NEC has been increased from three to five members following the recent elections.

South Africa- Arms corruption trial shakes ANC government.
Trade unionists and youth should not support either ANC leadership factions

Uzbekistan- After the Andizhan and Pakhtabad massacres
Despotic Karimov regime remains a tinder box

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).

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