Marcus Pabian, Melbourne
On September 22, the Socialist Alliance held an election launch at the Trades Hall for its nine Victorian federal election candidates.
"Is Australia a free democracy? Not while Craig Johnston remains a political prisoner", said Tim Gooden, candidate for Corio and assistant secretary of Geelong Trades and Labour Council. "Compared to the days of struggle on the waterfront in 1998, the ruling class is now prepared to criminalise trade unionism and lock-up trade unionists like Craig Johnston because their leadership and ideas are a real threat to profits. We will defend him not only because he is a member of ours but for the sake of trade unionism."
As Kodak was spreading the word to the corporate media that digital cameras were the cause of job cuts at its Melbourne plant, David Glanz, the socialists' candidate for Wills was campaigning at the factory gates with a mock 1.5-metre roll of Kodak film which portrayed a series of images exposing the lies of the company — which is still pulling a profit.
"Do women live freely? Ask the 50,000 women who have already called the Victorian Domestic Violence Crisis Line this year in need of help and protection", suggested Zoe Kenny, the Socialist Alliance candidate for the seat of Melbourne. "While there is formal equality, how many choices can women afford if they receive 66% of men's wages, working jobs in low-paying industries?"
"Muslim people are told to tolerate terrifying house raids by gun toting federal police, refugees are forced to tolerate imprisonment without trial, and now gay and lesbian people must tolerate a homophobic law banning gay marriage", said Kenny. "The Socialist Alliance will not tolerate this discrimination."
"Yes we can afford it. We can afford to pay for our policies. We will tax the rich by increasing the company tax rate from 30% to 49% — raising over $15 billion", said Batman candidate Graham Matthews.
Three people decided to become members of the Socialist Alliance on the night.
From Green Left Weekly, September 29, 2004.
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