Howard Promotes Individual Contracts
Wednesday, November 10 @ 20:02:35 CST

Howard’s ‘Reforms’ to Make Millions Casual
By Kylie McGregor, Coordinator of UNITE
Howard, not content with the ‘flexibility’ bosses get from casualisation, is renewing his push for Australian Workplace Agreements (AWAs), as the way to keep labour costs lower than ever. AWAs or individual contracts, attack collective agreements, the award system and protection mechanisms for employees. Ultimately, Howard’s AWAs are an attempt to strip away unions and the award system in one foul swoop. Many Bosses on Brunswick street, and in other small business centres around Victoria are pressuring their staff to sign AWAs.

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Forestry debate: A socialist approach
Wednesday, November 10 @ 19:59:59 CST

It was one of the starkest images of the federal election campaign, CFMEU forestry union members on their feet, clapping and cheering for John Howard. It was just before the federal election and he had just told them what every worker in the world wants to hear. That their jobs would be safe.

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Crossword Solution Issue 9
Wednesday, November 10 @ 18:39:55 CST



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USA: The rotten US electoral system
Wednesday, November 10 @ 06:39:52 CST

New allegations of voting irregularities
Tom Crean, Socialist Alternative, CWI in the US
In the end, Bush won a clear majority of the popular vote and there was not a repeat of the disputed outcome of the 2000 election. However, this does not mean that American democracy has been “fixed” since the Florida debacle four years ago. Recall that in that election, Gore won the national popular vote and only lost because the Supreme Court refused to allow a full recount of the Florida vote. Many independent observers are convinced that a recount would have given Gore the victory but Florida’s governor Jeb Bush and an army of Republican lawyers were determined to stop this happening. In the end, Bush took office as a result of a “cold coup”.

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US: How Could Bush Win?
Tuesday, November 09 @ 03:10:08 CST

Democrats’ failure shows need for new workers’ party
By Philip Locker, Socialist Alternative (CWI, US)
Tens of millions of people in the US are deeply dismayed at the victory of George W. Bush and the Republicans and are asking: “How could Bush have won?”

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China: The Rising Force in our Region
Monday, November 08 @ 06:46:17 CST

Background feature on history of and current situation in China

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Socialist Alliance sows illusions in Greens
Sunday, November 07 @ 00:39:22 CST

While the Socialist Party (SP) is busy putting the blowtorch to the Greens, another left wing party, Socialist Alliance (SA), continues to build up their credibility.

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Greens failure in Yarra opens up way for Socialists
Sunday, November 07 @ 00:36:18 CST

By Stephen Jolly, Socialist Party National Secretary
In 2002 the Yarra City Council election saw the election of four Greens Councilors. In 2003 the Council elected the first Green Party mayor in Australia. The municipality covers the inner city northern suburbs of Melbourne, and has an $88 million budget and over 500 staff.

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USA: Bush victory will provoke big opposition
Saturday, November 06 @ 05:43:36 CST

By Peter Taaffe, Socialist Party, England and Wales
Elections show US workers need their own political voice
There is deep disappointment in Australia, Britain and worldwide at the victory of Bush in the US elections. This, however, does not justify drawing pessimistic conclusions for the future or insulting the US people, as did the London Daily Mirror: "How can 59 million people be dumb enough to vote for this?" Similar conclusions were drawn about the elections in Britain in 1992 when John Major unexpectedly crept back to power, despite the previous forcible eviction of Thatcher from office and the defeat of the hated poll tax. Six months after Major's re-election came 'Black Wednesday' and the collapse of the European Exchange Rate Mechanism (ERM) which sealed the fate of the Tories, from which they have never recovered.

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Terrorism: A socialist response
Thursday, November 04 @ 20:51:21 CST

By Gary Duffy
The subject of terrorism is not a clean and easy one to deal with firstly there is the well known popular view that one individuals terrorist isanothers freedom fighter. (For example the East Timorese and the ANC in Sth Africa, the Taliban in Afghanistan who went from freedom fighters when fighting against the Soviets to terrorists when fighting against the US- inthe eyes of Western powers). Secondly terrorism has also meant different things to different people at different times. As an example in pre-revolutionary Russia the assassination of high ranking officials who engaged in brutal behaviour was a popular pastime- those who engaged in this type of activity could be called heroic (even if deluded in their methods). Not so those modern day terrorists with indiscriminate killings of every day citizens.

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What way forward for Craig Johnston campaign
Thursday, November 04 @ 20:43:53 CST

By Anthony Main, AMWU Shop Steward (Metals Division)
In late August the Victorian Court of Appeal sentenced ex-AMWU State Secretary Craig Johnston to two years and nine months jail. Nine months is to be served immediately with the remainder suspended for 2 and 1/2 years. The Court ruled the original sentence in the County Court (a wholly suspended sentence) was "manifestly inadequate".

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What future for Socialism?
Wednesday, November 03 @ 05:09:00 CST

LYNN WALSH, editor of Socialism Today, British monthly magazine of the Socialist Party argues that socialism, far from being 'finished', will once again become the idea that guides workers and youth in the struggle for a new society.
From Socialism Today, issue one, September 1995
WHAT, TODAY, ARE the prospects for socialism? Many on the left, including figures previously identified with revolutionary Marxism, are now utterly pessimistic.

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We need your help on election day!
Wednesday, November 03 @ 04:53:37 CST

On Saturday November 27th we need your help handing out how-to-vote cards for the Langridge Ward (Collingwood, Fitzroy, Abbotsford, Clifton Hill and Alphington/Fairfield Park) in the Yarra City Council elections. We are standing three candidates: Stephen Jolly, Erinn Sales and Zac Wright. 3 Councillors will be elected in the ward out of 11 candidates.
In the two weeks before the 27th, we are staffing two pre-poll booths in the Ward.

The ALP and Green Councillors have let us down - Support the campaign for real change in Yarra Council! Support your Socialist Party Left Wing Team

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Will Howard have to face his first recession as Prime Minister?
Wednesday, November 03 @ 04:48:48 CST

During the election campaign, the Treasury Department predicted 3.5% growth in GDP over each of the next two years. Within days of being re-elected, Treasurer Peter Costello was already watering down these over-optimistic thoughts.

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What is Family First?
Wednesday, November 03 @ 04:47:04 CST

Millions of workers were disgusted that their votes for Labor in the Senate meant their preferences went to the socially-reactionary Family First Party. For example, despite only one fifth of the Green primary vote, preference deals meant Family First jumped ahead of the Greens by the end of counting!

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Why I joined the Socialist Party
Tuesday, November 02 @ 18:29:29 CST

By Sally Haddow, 29, Melbourne
I have always believed in socialist policies and the need to build a socialist alternative to the major parties. So the question for me was which socialist organisation should I join? My main reason for choosing The Socialist Party was because, unlike many other socialist organisations, they do more than just talk. They involve themselves in the community and in concrete,relevant issues. Present examples of this are the parties contributions to the Unite campaign and involvement in the upcoming City of Yarra council elections. In this way I believe they make themselves accessible to ordinary working class people and in turn create opportunities for such people to be exposed to and learn about socialism as a natural progression of their struggle.
This was particularly evident during The Richmond Secondary College campaign in 1993, which was when I was first exposed to and became involved in the party. I would encourage anyone who is interested in joining a socialist organisation or simply wants to learn more about us to come along to a meeting.

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Indonesian Presidential Election
Tuesday, November 02 @ 18:27:54 CST

SBY gets the poisoned chalice
By Yorran Pakanakos

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Mother of all Trivia Nights! Quiz Master: Rod Quantock
Thursday, October 28 @ 19:32:07 CDT

Fundaiser for SP Left Wing Team for Langridge Ward
Saturday 20th November 2004
at Spensley St Primary School, Spensley St, Clifton Hill
(closest station Clifton Hill)
6pm Meal, 7pm Trivia Night starts
$10 entry
Children very welcome!
Quiz Master: Rod Quantock
All welcome
Come and have a great night, hear and meet our candidates

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What way forward for the unions under Howard?
Thursday, October 28 @ 03:34:20 CDT

We won’t surrender to Howard – even if the ACTU leaders put up the white flag

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CFMEU (constrution) under attack
Thursday, October 28 @ 03:31:25 CDT

Federal Government prepares to unleash the dogs on the CFMEU (construction division)
It’s On! – Let’s get organized for the battle

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East Timor: 5 years since the Australian-led intervention
Wednesday, October 27 @ 05:07:27 CDT

We reprint an article from the CWI and 2 from our party, then called Militant Socialist Organisation, on the East Timor crisis written in 1999.
5 years ago the Socialist Party stood almost alone against the flag-waving of the ruling class, its media, the ALP and union leaders, and the petit bourgeois left groups like the DSP who suppported the Australian military intervenion into East Timor.
We warned that this was undertaken not for humanitarian reasons but to strengthen Australian imperialist influence in the region. Today, the blatant exploitation of East Timor by the Australian elite, proves our point. We can proudly reprint our articles from 1999. Don't expect the left-wing groups who supported the intervention to do the same...

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We need $1000 for Council election
Monday, October 25 @ 21:43:30 CDT

The Socialist Party in Victoria is in the middle of important local Council elections. Already we are running the most effective and professional campaign the SP has ever done. 10,000 copies of our first four page full colour leaflet (see it on our web site) have been door-knocked or letterboxed. 2000 homes have been doorknocked so far. Soon posters and a second leaflet are to be published.
We are getting a warm response to our attack on the neo-liberal Green/Labor run Council and support for our socialist alternative. We have had a good run in the local media. We are looking forward the first of three debates, this Thursday, between the candidates.
The election has so cost the Party not a single cent. Thanks to $400 from ETU, $500 CFMEU (FFTS division), $100 Lorraine, $30 Llewella, $250 Erinn and Andrew, $400 Ian Cooke, nearly $800 at the election launch (including $400 from Nell). The rest has been made up with loans from Comrades.
We still need to raise $1000 and that will pay for everything. The costs include $750 for nominations, $2000 for the first leaflet, $250 for the business cards which are so effective during door knocking, and a great $2400 deal for the second leaflet, the posters, the how-to-vote cards, and more business cards.
We need all comrades and supporters to ask their family, friends, fellow students, and fellow workers if they can contribute $500 or $100 or $20 or even $5 for this special appeal.
Please email your pledge or any pledge you can raise from someone else to
You can also pay on line on our web page.
Regards
Stephen Jolly, lead candidate SP Left Wing Team for Langridge Ward

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Scotland: Nationalism vs Socialism
Sunday, October 24 @ 07:22:49 CDT

The Democratic Socialist Perspective group in Australia have long supported the ex-CWI members who dominate the leadership of the Scottish Socialist Party (SSP). On the other hand our comrades, active in the rank and file of the SSP, have criticised the shift away from an independent socialist analysis by the SSP leadership.
Recent developments have, unfortunately, supported their worst fears...

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Joe Higgins Column: Writing about his Aussie visit
Wednesday, October 20 @ 03:51:02 CDT

Joe Higgins Column
Report back from speaking tour of Australia
By Joe Higgins, TD
I have just finished a 10 day speaking tour in Australia organised by the Australian Socialist Party (ASP), which is affiliated to the Committee for a Workers' International (CWI - the international socialist organisation to which the Socialist Party is affiliated).

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Ireland: Ireland: Socialist MP, Joe Higgins, challenges Kofi Annan, UN Secretary
Wednesday, October 20 @ 03:45:54 CDT

The Irish government has set up an organisation called the National Forum on Europe which is supposed to allow more public discussion on matters related to the European Union. On 14 October the Forum heard an address by the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan who had come to speak about planned reforms to the United Nations. All Party leaders were allowed to address comments to Kofi Annan. The following speech was made by Joe Higgins, the Socialist Party TD in the Irish Parliament. Joe’s speech shows that the public representatives of the cwi do not pull their punches whatever audience they are talking to. Primarily they use their public positions as a platform to give voice to the anger of the thousands of working class people they represent. Annan, reflecting the arrogance of all diplomats and members of the political elite these days, did not answer any of Joe’s questions or refer to any points made in his speech in the summation given to the Forum.
Socialist MP, Joe Higgins, challenges Kofi Annan, UN Secretary General

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UNITE BRUNSWICK STREET RALLY - RALLY AGAINST THE HOWARD-EMPLOYER OFFENSIVE
Monday, October 18 @ 23:46:11 CDT

Come to the UNITE RALLY... SATURDAY NOVEMBER 13th BRUNSWICK ST, FITZROY Featuring ... Dodgy Boss name and Shame!... Howard's Unfair dismissal laws will see casualisation of the workforce sky-rocket! If this goes through workers will be further exploited, less likely to speak out - workers conditions will inevitably be lower than ever. Workers cannot rely on the benevolence of their bosses to make sure their are treated fairly!

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Eating disorders: Symptoms of a sick culture
Sunday, October 17 @ 04:15:53 CDT

By Jessica Johnston, Socialist Alternative, US CWI party
“There's nothing wrong with me the way I am. However, when I look in the mirror I see a FAT girl named Jennifer. Not ever good enough or right enough or pretty enough.” (www.eating.ucdavis.edu) That’s how one anorexia victim described herself.

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Socialist theory
Thursday, October 14 @ 20:09:47 CDT

Why you should be a socialist
Can we reign in corporate power within capitalism? Or is socialism necessary?
By Ty Moore, Socialist Alternative, the CWI party in the United States

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Howard didn’t win it, Latham lost it
Monday, October 11 @ 06:11:05 CDT

Socialist Party National Committee statement on the Howard election victory, what it means, and what next...

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New survey on what now after Howard reelection
Sunday, October 10 @ 04:49:39 CDT

Vote on our new survey on this page. What is your view of the Howard victory?

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