Aboriginal health
I read with interest the issues article "Rough justice for Port Keats" by Sam McQuillan (GLW #306). I am a registered nurse who has worked in remote area communities and also undertaken research on this subject for a period of more than 20 years. To merely inquire into the closure of the health centre in this community could overlook a more critical issue.
There is an urgent need for an inquiry into the whole system of health care services to Aboriginal people living in remote areas. As Lisa Macdonald remarked ("Blindness", GLW #306), the health of Australian indigenous women "is worse today than 20 years ago". This situation is most extreme for Aboriginal women in remote areas.
It cannot be assumed that, because a health centre exists in a remote area, care is provided safely and competently. It may also be argued that a substandard health service will cause more harm than no service at all. In a remote area where Aboriginal people often have limited access to education and other opportunities, including knowledge of their rights, there is potential for a serious travesty of health care.
Perth WA
Election preferences
I found it very disappointing in the recent ACT elections that the Progressive Labour Party was not prepared to do a preference swap with the Democratic Socialists. We gave the PLP, followed by the ACT Greens, our preferences and explained this principled decision on our how-to-vote information. We were the only progressive candidates to direct preferences.
In Molonglo, the Democratic Socialists received 725 votes and the PLP received 196 votes with 88% of the vote counted. But the PLP did not direct preferences except by inviting PLP voters to preference other "social democratic, green and progressive groups or independents". This undermined potential unity amongst left and progressive forces against increasingly brutal neo-liberal attacks.
The need for a tight exchange of preferences is highlighted by the ACT Greens' loss of their second seat to a right-wing "law and order" candidate — partly because the Democrats decided not to direct preferences. Such an error was not committed by the right wing. Right to Life and the Shooters Party, for example, gave clearly directed preferences.
Democratic Socialist candidate for Molonglo
Canberra
Police powers
The recent alleged murder of an off-duty police officer has led to the NSW police minister and police commissioner calling for increased police power "to protect the community" by allowing police to carry their firearms at all times, even while off duty.
The death occurred last week, after Sydney City Council had cancelled a Youth Week dance party. Three young people were confronted outside the venue by three men in civilian clothing. Allegedly (the police version), one of the young males offered to sell them drugs. The men supposedly then identified themselves as police and tried to arrest the youths. In the melee, two police were stabbed, one fatally.
A resident said the young woman with the two youths was "very upset, saying, 'But my dad is coming to pick me up'". It seems likely that these young people had arrived for the dance party, found it had been cancelled, and the two young men waited with the young woman for her pre-arranged ride home with her father.
The three police had been at a local pub for some time, but their sobriety has never been questioned. The young people have been vilified by the mainstream press as "a drug gang, armed with knives and willing to kill".
When the arrests were made, several days later, 40 police swooped on a unit in Sydney's western suburbs. These police included officers from the Special Response Group — formerly the Tactical Response Group, which killed David Gundy in a botched 1989 raid and wounded Darren Brennan — and the Violent Serial Offenders Group.
When the youth appeared in court several hours later, his solicitor sought medical attention for him because he had been kicked in the face, stomped on the head and police had stood on his shoulders while he lay immobile on the ground.
Six young people have been arrested over the incident, five of them charged with "concealing a serious offence", which carries a two- to five-year jail term.
I am frightened by the police minister and commissioner — and the right-wing radio shock-jocks — saying the police should be armed at all times. Armed when they go to the pub, have a quibble with their neighbour over noise, or when they are angry with their wives? Armed when they take the law into their own hands, like former detective Said Morgan, who killed an alleged child abuser after illegally searching the police computer system for the man's address?
I'd rather less youth homelessness and unemployment, and more money for public schools. I would like the mass media to stop vilifying youth with stereotypes of violent, drug-abusing, welfare cheating no-hopers. Instead of more and bigger police guns, how about funding for youth employment programs, youth housing, youth education, youth health and youth-friendly space for recreation!
Woolloomooloo NSW
[Abridged.]
Iraq
With the recent publicity and international focus on the threatened military strike by the USA on Iraq, we wish to bring public attention to the ongoing misery, degradation and abuse which continue to be inflicted on the ordinary citizens of Iraq. The suffering is the direct result of the seven years of sanctions, imposed by the UN, on essential items for human survival.
The current numbers of deaths directly resulting from the embargo is 1.5 million citizens (UNESCO). The majority of the fatalities have been children. Can we, as Australians, possibly imagine our children being deprived of the essentials of life like milk, clean water, adequate sanitation and medicines?
The politicians would have us believe that these horrendous circumstances are a direct result of Saddam Hussein's refusal to comply with the UN demands for weapons inspections. In the last seven years there have been at least 1000 inspections carried out. These inspections have been carried out at sites like schools, religious centres etc. A recent example of these questionable activities was a nun's report that she had been confronted by 18 UN inspectors, wanting to search her convent.
The latest active threats of aggression at the behest of the USA have little to do with UN requirements but everything to do with America's bellicose agenda.
We implore all citizens of Australia to actively support abolition of the inhumane sanctions. In the words of Emma Miller, a noted Australian humanitarian, "The world is my country, to do good is my religion". We cannot ignore the suffering being imposed by politicians on the Iraqi citizens.
To help end to these sanctions and raise money for medicines etc., please call Bryan on (02) 6680 0178 or Mick/Debbie on (02) 8885 1604.
Byron shire NSW
[Abridged.]
Racism
The International Socialist Organisation is accusing the Democratic Socialist Party (of which I am a member) of being soft on Pauline Hanson. The argument runs that because we are in favour of free speech and because we do not believe that the puerile attempts to "silence" Hanson foisted on the anti-racist movement by the ISO are effective, the DSP are her supporters.
The DSP's strategy in fighting racism is to recognise that there is a material basis for it within an imperialist country like Australia — even in sections of the working class. We will not end racism by trying to silence its advocates, but only by convincing working people of their own self-interest.
Only by convincing working people that the bosses and their political parties (Liberal and Labor) are responsible for falling living standards can we hope to defeat racism.
There is more involved in the battle of ideas than calling "racist" at the top of your voice at aging dupes attending Hanson meetings. The sad truth is that the ISO, like all the other liberals, don't have the courage to take up this fight.
Democratic Socialist Party organiser
Brisbane
Abuse of unemployed
I have recently been put out of work and was shocked by the attitude of Centrelink when I applied for the dole.
In an article written by Brett Hill in the "Big Weekend" lift-out of the West Australian three weeks ago, he articulately describes a shocking abuse of the unemployed by the powers that be.
My attitude is that the unemployed are the heroes of the economy. We have been sacrificed to make their economy work.
I'd like to contact people who have had similar experiences, and people who have tried to do something to correct the injustices. Perhaps something constructive can be done. I know that I cannot meekly sit by and be treated in a manner not fit for heroes.
Victoria Park WA
[Abridged.]
Telstra privatisation
One of our leading federal politicians has sunk to new depths of cynical misrepresentation of the facts by claiming that Telstra is one-third publicly owned and two-thirds government owned.
In fact, Telstra is one-third privately owned and two-thirds publicly owned, in contrast to its previous status of being wholly publicly owned. It is being privatised, not nationalised, and we, the electors, will not forget the immoral dispersion of publicly owned assets by both this government and the previous Labor government.
Unfortunately, Treasurer Costello will be able to claim a mandate for both further privatisation and a goods and services tax if re-elected, not because the public want it but because the alternative government is so much on the nose that nobody is willing to trust it. Instead of developing alternative policies it is persisting with the cult of the individual.
Alawa NT