SP Newsletter No.90
Sunday, June 12 @ 20:19:49 CDT

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

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SP Website statistics
Saturday, June 04 @ 22:02:26 CDT

The SP Website stats for May 2005 have been our most successful ever.

Unique visitors - 2327
Number of visits - 3420
Pages - 12779
Hits - 87017
Bandwidth - 370.76 MB

Be sure to tell all your friends and colleges about our website - all the best local, national and international news and analysis at socialistpartyaustralia.org

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Corby gets 20 years - SP Public meeting in Melbourne
Thursday, May 26 @ 23:15:34 CDT

This Tuesday 31st May 7pm the Socialist Party (Melbourne City branch) has a public meeting on the Schapelle Corby affair from a socialist perspective. Trades Hall (cnr Lygon+Victoria Sts, Carlton South).

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SP Yarra Council report, May 2005
Thursday, May 12 @ 01:22:04 CDT

Monthly report from SP Cllr Stephen Jolly
Comrades,
Last Tuesday's Council meeting saw up to 100 local residents attend in another example of the growing grassroots democracy coming back to Richmond Town Hall after years of Kennettism and the aftereffects of Kennettism.

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SP Cllr Stephen Jolly responds to attack from ASU leaders
Thursday, May 05 @ 19:47:03 CDT

At the April 2005 Yarra City Council meeting, I asked a ‘Question without Notice’ of the Acting Director of Planning, Jane Homewood, as to why a two year extension had been given to Ashlyn Enterprises for their Cheese Grater development in Fitzroy.

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May Day greetings from the Socialist Party
Saturday, April 30 @ 02:21:14 CDT

The Socialist Party sends May Day greetings to our comrades in the CWI and workers and youth across the world.

May Day has historically been celebrated as a day of international working-class solidarity and struggle. It has added significance this year as workers and young people confront a globalised capitalist system attacking our working conditions, polluting our environment and killing thousands of men, women and children each year through war, starvation and preventable diseases.

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Latest report from Socialist Party Yarra Cllr Stephen Jolly
Friday, April 15 @ 18:47:59 CDT

Comrades
The last week has been one of the most intense of recent times in the Yarra City Council area. It's not every week that the Mayor, myself, and Yarra Council are on the TV news, the Age, all the radio stations, and the local media over not one but two main stories. The heightened political interest was reflected in the Council meeting on Tuesday which went from 7pm to 11.37pm with up to 100 local people in attendence.
What are the issues?

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Making socialism relevant
Tuesday, April 05 @ 08:11:26 CDT

First of a regular column in The Socialist from SP Councillor Stephen Jolly, Yarra City Council, Langridge Ward (Collingwood, Fitzroy, Abbotsford, Clifton Hill, Alphington and South Fairfield in Melbourne)

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New SP survey: What are the Greens?
Tuesday, March 29 @ 04:09:59 CST

Have your say on the Green Party phenomena on our new survey on front page of SP web site
Results of last poll:
Can Labor recover?
Yes, they will and must recover. I support them 11.11% (15 votes)
Yes - in votes - but we need a new workers' party 39.26% (53)
No, they are dead. Greens are only option 10.37% (14)
No, they are dead. We need a new workers' party 39.26% (53)
Total Votes: 135

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CWI: Building a mass socialist international
Monday, March 28 @ 03:13:25 CST

A reply to the Democratic Socialist Perspective (DSP), Australia
By Peter Taaffe, CWI
The following article is a reply, by Peter Taaffe, from the Committee for a Workers’ International (CWI), to an article by John Percy, National Secretary of the Australian Democratic Socialist Perspective (DSP - formerly the Democratic Socialist Party), carried in the DSP’s journal, ‘Links’ (Links no. 25, January to June, 2004).

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How the Socialist Party runs its meetings
Monday, March 28 @ 02:41:29 CST

By Lorraine Lockhart, Socialist Party Melbourne
The aim of this document is to help new comrades understand how the Socialist Party conducts its meetings. Also how a meeting can be conducted to be more inclusive, democratic, organised and most importantly, effective in its decision making.

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Yarra Council Banco mass meeting report-back
Wednesday, March 23 @ 18:51:37 CST

Last night's Council's-run public meeting on the Banco development was a great success for the community. 200+ locals piled into Collingwood Town Hall past an excellent Socialist Party stall and banner, and reading the SP leaflet on the issue at hand.

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Successful child care action meeting in Yarra
Sunday, March 20 @ 05:16:36 CST

A meeting of child care users and advocates met today, Sunday 20th March, in North Fitzroy to discuss the crisis. There are 500 families without places in Yarra at the moment and we want Council to work hard to fix the problem, which can't get around the question of spending money on the issue. A second organising meeting is to be held next week, with a Picnic Rally in May. Watch this space.


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3 important events in Yarra - socialism mobilising the community!
Thursday, March 17 @ 03:25:18 CST

1. Just Fix it! Meeting to discuss and act on the child care crisis in Yarra. This Sunday 20th March, 3pm, Holden St Neighbourhood House, Holden St, North Fitzroy
2. Say no to Banco! Say yes to a community-based alternative plan for the Smith St area. Yes to low cost housing, child care and neighbourhood houses, open space and strict height limits. Mass meeting called by Yarra Council, Wednesday 23rd March, 7pm, Collingwood Town Hall, Hoddle St, Collingwood
3. Transport: Time to take on the Car Lobby! Public meeting with SP, Greens, PTUA, CBC Melbourne and more on Thursday 7th April, 7.30pm, Bowling Club, Edinburgh Gardens, St Georges Rd, North Fitzroy

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Report on 2nd Yarra Council meeting for 2005
Thursday, March 10 @ 21:44:22 CST

From Socialist Party Councillor Stephen Jolly


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Murdoch media apologies to SP Cllr Stephen Jolly
Sunday, March 06 @ 21:06:15 CST

Today's Melbourne Yarra Leader (7th March 2005) has a front page article entitled "City to clear drunks" that says: "Cr Jolly said Stanley St residents were also angry about litter being dumped by people gathering at the corner of Smith and Stanley streets."

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The principles behind how we run the Socialist Party
Thursday, March 03 @ 03:37:46 CST

What is Democratic Centralism?
Speech by Samantha Ashby, SP Summer School February 2005

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New SP Council web site/blog!!!
Sunday, February 27 @ 17:40:57 CST

Comrades,
Go to https://socialistpartyaustralia.org/council/ for the new SP Councillor Stephen Jolly's web site/blog on Yarra City Council issues and being a socialist councillor. Or if you are lazy click here

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1st 2005 Yarra City Council report
Thursday, February 10 @ 17:53:50 CST

From the Socialist Party Councillor at Yarra City Council, Stephen Jolly
Comrades and Yarra Residents,
The first Council meeting of 2005 was held on Tuesday with a packed gallery and media present. It was the “the most exciting Council meeting in 10 years” according to one onlooker.

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Important message from Socialist Councillor
Thursday, February 03 @ 19:28:33 CST

Comrades and Yarra Residents,
The first Yarra City Council meeting for 2005 (and only the second of the newly elected Council) meets this Tuesday, February 8th, at 7.30pm at Richmond Town Hall, Bridge Rd, Richmond. I strongly encourage all local residents, and all those interested in the workings of what the ALP Mayor called "Australia's most left wing Council" to attend. There is space on the agenda for questions from the public. There is expected to be an intense debate over the issue of transport which is to be voted on. In the lead-up to the Council election in November, 5 of the 9 elected Councillors pledged to support the motion. We will see on Tuesday whether there is still a majority support for Council to get behind an active and alternative voice to the oil, road and car lobbies.
The day after the Council meeting, I will send out a full report of the many issues, battles and impending battles on Council and amongst residents in the area.
Comradely Greetings
Stephen Jolly, Socialist Party Councillor for Langridge Ward

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Newcastle Community 350+ Vs. Racists 10
Saturday, January 22 @ 18:57:36 CST

Report of yesterday's anti-fascist mobilisation in Newcastle, NSW
On Saturday January 22th a successful demonstration was held in solidarity with the Sudanese community against the Patriotic Youth League, which had been trying to whip up hatred of them in the working class suburb of Islington. At its height 350 people, with probably 500 people in total attending this event. Speakers from the trade unions, activists and Sudanese residents spoke out against the attacks of the PYL. Simon from the Newcastle Socialist Party spoke of his experiences in the early 1990s fighting the BNP in London, as well as the need for the movement to deal with the pressing issues such as jobs, education and cuts to community services. He also spoke of the need to confront these racist groups wherever they came up.

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Text of SP leaflet at Newcastle anti-fascist rally
Saturday, January 22 @ 18:53:27 CST

ORGANISE TO STOP THE FASCISTS
A small neo-nazi group is trying to stir up race hatred in Newcastle. At a time when the vast majority of Novocastrians have demonstrated their genuine compassion for all the victims of the Tsunami, a tiny group of racists are trying to whip up hatred against the Sudanese community.

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Successful public meeting and appeal for Sri Lankan comrades
Wednesday, January 19 @ 05:09:52 CST

On Tuesday the 18th January the Melbourne City branch of the Socialist Party hosted a very successful public meeting. The topic was The tsunarmi Disaster - A Socialist perspective.
The meeting heard a first-hand report from Comrade Siri (General Secretary of the United Socialist Party - Sri Lanka), followed by an in depth analysis of the disaster by comrade Sampath Perrera (Sri Lankan socialist living in Melbourne and member of SP).
The meeting held a joint financial appeal for thr USP and Health Workers Union in Sri Lanka with all participants agreeing that it was vital for us to play a role in assisting with the rebuilding of the workers' movement in the region.
On the night $1241 was received in cash and $420 in IOU's. This was in addition to $500 received by the NSW SP comrades.
So far our special appeal stands at $2161. Please rush in your IOU's and any further pledges by the 1st of February at the latest. C/O The SP National Office. or PO BOX 1015 Collingwood VIC 3066

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Big increase in visits to SP web site last year
Friday, January 14 @ 00:00:37 CST

Comrades
In 2004 the number of people reading and downloading from the SP web site increased dramatically over the previous year

Unique Visitors 2004: 15,185 (4,257 in 2003)
No. of Visitors 2004: 22,688 (7,228 in 2003)
Pages 2004: 82,015 (31,700 in 2003)
Hits 2004: 667,475 (128,991 in 2003)
Bandwidth downloaded 2004: 2.50 GB (748.43 mb in 2003)

Please let as many of your friends and colleagues as possible know about our web site

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We need your money for Sri Lankan socialists
Thursday, January 13 @ 18:02:15 CST

Comrades
Especially those comrades and supporters outside Victoria, please consider as big as possible a donation to our special socialist appeal to help rebuild our party (the United Socialist Party) in Sri Lanka who have lost a Central Committee member and many resources through the tsunami. Please email your pledge to or post to SP, PO Box 1015, Collingwood 3066.
The appeal will take place this Tuesday night at the public meeting in Melbourne. See details below. All Victorians can attend and give a sizeable donation.
Thanks to uni student Widge who donated $200 and his friend who donated $100. Also $100 from Anthony Main.
This is an example for all of us.

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Report on first weeks as a Socialist Party Councillor
Sunday, December 19 @ 04:31:23 CST

Stephen Jolly, SP's Councillor for Yarra's Langridge Ward, gives a report of the first three weeks since his election

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SP Councillor's speech at swearing in ceremony
Thursday, December 02 @ 20:20:53 CST

Last night the Yarra City Councillors were sworn in at Richmond Town Hall in front of a big audience. Here is SP Councillor Stephen Jolly's speech, which had the best response by far on the night.

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Detailed election results for Socialist victory
Wednesday, December 01 @ 03:09:41 CST

For the detailed roll up on pdf:

For preliminary votes broken down by booth (these are not final figures)


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Socialist Councillor sworn in this Thursday
Monday, November 29 @ 21:48:12 CST

All Socialist Party members and supporters and voters are invited to Richmond Town Hall, Bridge Rd, Richmond this Thursday, 2nd December, at 7pm for the formal swearing in of the first socialist councillor for many years. Last Saturday Stephen Jolly was elected with 3 Greens, 3 ALP, and 2 independents onto Yarra City Council. Come along and enjoy a complementary drink on the night...

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First Socialist Party Councillor elected!
Sunday, November 28 @ 23:42:01 CST

Comrades!
The Socialist Party is proud to announce that Stephen Jolly won a seat in Langridge Ward in the Yarra City Council elections on Saturday. This is the first electoral victory for the socialist movement in Australia for many years.

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