BY GRAHAM MATTHEWS
BRISBANE — The S11 protests were a massive success but there was much to learn from it for future efforts. That was the consensus of an S11 Alliance-sponsored public meeting held here on October 4, entitled "S11: After the victory, Where to now?".
The meeting, attended by 50 people from very diverse backgrounds, heard from eight speakers representing a wide range of groups from Queers Against Corporate Exploitation (QuACE) to Friends of the Earth, who were each given five minutes to state their case.
While all had some criticisms and differing ideas on the way forward for the anti-corporate movement, all the speakers regarded the three-day mass blockade as an enormous victory which generated great solidarity.
Student activist Jo Ball, speaking on behalf of QuACE, argued that it was a great victory that a queer contingent was formed for S11, while attacking the homophobia of the police and the unevenness of some sections of the demonstration itself.
Camille Barbagello, representing the Feminist Action Collective, articulated a similar message, arguing that feminist politics was somewhat marginalised in the protest by the lack of an organised feminist contingent.
Catholic Worker activist Ciaron O'Reilly began his address by reading part of an article published in a local newspaper criticising Marxists (particularly their marshalling) and the so-called "Black Bloc" at the demonstration. O'Reilly nevertheless concluded his talk with praise for the action and for all forces involved.
Adrian Skerrit, representing the International Socialist Organisation, dwelt on the fact that the S11 protest had been the Victorian police force's acknowledged worst-case scenario, emphasising the instances when police were forced to retreat by protesters. Skerrit also acknowledged that the protest had won the battle for ideas, implanting the notion that society's problems were caused by the system.
Andrew Dogwood from Friends of the Earth spoke of the success of the "Green Bloc" at the blockade. Commenting on a dispute with some unionists on September 12 over their decision to allow staff through blockade lines, Dogwood indicated that the Green Bloc made the decision not to confront the unionists "because S11 is only a battle, it's not the war".
Karen Fletcher from the Democratic Socialist Party sought some explanation of the police violence at S11 in a comment piece in Rupert Murdoch's Australian, written by columnist Greg Sheridan. Sheridan had argued that it was dangerous for the ruling class to concede anything to the protesters, because to feed "mad dogs" is to make "strong mad dogs".
While praising the success of the blockade, Fletcher had some harsh words for the Labor government of Steve Bracks and the leadership of the Victorian Trade Hall Council. While acknowledging the spirit of individual workers, Fletcher criticised the trade union leadership for failing to support the blockade.
The secret of S11's success "was as simple as recognising the power we held collectively", argued Griffith University student representative council chairperson Mandy Dawe. Dawe stressed the importance of student unions remaining outside the framework of corporate clubs like the WEF and argued that non-government organisations which participated in discussions with such institutions offered them social cover to their ant-people agenda.
The final speaker John Tracey, on behalf of the Brisbane Aboriginal activist community, sought an explanation for the relative failure of the Olympics protests in Sydney. "The possibility of an Aboriginal leadership emerging was wiped out by SOCOG", Tracey argued. The millions of dollars spent by SOCOG had fractured the movement, he argued.
Discussion at the meeting ranged over the role of marshals, how the blockade was organised and plans for the future. A DSP suggestion to look toward some form of student/worker protest on May 1 won support.
A decision was also taken to convene a meeting of all those interested in developing the S11 movement at the Queensland Conservatorium of Music, on November 1 at 7pm.