Communist Party Of Australia (SA)

CPA campaign featured on ABC's 730 SA

2012-02-04T00:26:00.005+10:30

CPA members were interviewed recently by ABC1s 730 SA program. Here's the result.

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CPA candidate concerned at military’s big plans for Port Adelaide

2012-02-04T00:19:00.002+10:30

Communist Party candidate in the by election for Port Adelaide, Bob Briton, today expressed concern at reports that Australia’s military planners would like to see the upgrading of Port Adelaide “to enable huge navy amphibious ships to load troops and equipment”.

“Port Adelaide is already host to Techport – a military industries hub at Osborne – which produces Air Warship Destroyers, submarines and other equipment designed to fight under US command in pursuit of US military objectives.

“It has nothing to do with defending our sovereignty and everything to do with an eventual showdown between the US and China. China is our largest trading partner and has shown no aggression towards Australia or any other country in the region. In whose interest is it to go rattling the sabre like this?

“The suggestion that Australia needs expanded US naval bases and even facilities for US nuclear submarines near Perth should rouse indignation in all Australians concerned about a drift to war.”

Mr Briton also commented on reports on the questioning of Defence SA chief executive Andrew Fletcher about the involvement of his organisation in garden projects on the LeFevre Peninsula.

“The reason Defence SA is involved in landscaping on the LeFevre Peneinsula is that they are engaged in a charm offensive on the people of the area, to sooth nerves about the militarization of the Port district and the state.

“We have Techport, we have schools feeding students into military industries through specialized curricula and now it looks as if we are going to get huge ships loading troops and equipment from Port Adelaide. We are also going to have uranium exported to India out of the Port if we can’t unite to head off all these reckless plans,” Mr Briton said.

CPA launches by-election campaign in the Port

2012-01-16T16:58:00.002+10:30

The Port Dock Brewery Hotel was packed on Saturday afternoon as the CPA launched its campaign for the seat of Port Adelaide. Among the crowd was Pas Forgione from Left Unity who spoke first on the need to continue building strong and united left coalition in South Australia. Pas relayed Left Unity's support for the CPA campaign before Bob took the stage to introduce the CPA's election platform. Follow this link to read Bob's speech (PDF).

Support the campaign to elect Bob Briton today!

2012-01-01T18:24:00.015+10:30

CPA State Secretary Bob Briton is standing in the seat of Port Adelaide vacated by former Treasurer Kevin Foley and we need your support. Running a strong election campaign is a costly exercise - newspaper ads, flyers, posters, t-shirts and associated costs all add up.

If you would like to make a financial contribution to our campaign to give the people of Port Adelaide a genuine working class alternative at the upcoming by-election, all you need to do is click on the blue button (top right of this blog) to make a secure online donation via PayPal using your PayPal account or your credit card.

Don't trust the web and would rather pay by cheque?

No problem. Cheques can be made out to the Communist Party of Australia (SA Branch) and posted to PO Box 612, Port Adelaide BC, 5015.

Can't afford a financial donation but would still like to help?

We are going to need volunteers for things like handing out how-to-votes on election day, letterboxing and a whole lot more. To volunteer some time to our campaign please email us at cpasouthaustralia@gmail.com or call Bob Briton on 0418 894 366.

VIDEO: Follow this link to see Bob talk about the campaign.

Thanks for helping us provide the people of Port Adelaide with a real working class alternative at the February 11 by-election.

Safety exemption leads to uranium spill

2012-01-01T15:54:00.004+10:30

Communist Party candidate in the by-election for Port Adelaide, Bob Briton, today expressed concern over the recent spill of uranium and copper concentrate into the Edith River in the Northern Territory following a train derailment. An exemption from the SA government’s SafeWork department allowed the toxic material to be transported from Oz Minerals’ Prominent Hill mine in wagons covered only by tarpaulins rather than in the sealed containers normally required.

“The government and SafeWork SA stand condemned over this incident. The rules were bent to allow the greatest profits to flow to the already profit-gorged resource sector,” Mr. Briton said.

“The concern for people of Port Adelaide is that, with exports of hazardous material out of the Port set to increase sharply over the next few years, any accident could seriously threaten the environment and the health of thousands of residents,” he said.

“The government needs to explain itself. It has to demonstrate how the increase in exports of uranium and other hazardous materials out of Port Adelaide can be reconciled with plans for developers to build many new homes around the inner Port,” said Mr. Briton.

“What plans are in place to deal with an emergency presented by the spilling of uranium and copper concentrate, for example, in the district or into the Port River?”

“What assurances can the government give that it won’t grant further exemptions from safety regulations to favour mining sector companies?” he asked.

Bob Briton to run in Port Adelaide by-election

2011-12-15T22:29:00.003+10:30

Communist Party state secretary Bob Briton will contest the by-election for the seat of Port Adelaide vacated by former treasurer and local member, Kevin Foley.

Bob lives in the area and stood in the seat of Lee during last year’s state election with a campaign that attracted considerable interest. The CPA’s campaign theme this time is “Respect the Port – its people, its history, its environment.”

“The people of the Port area have suffered for too long from neglect by Labor and Liberal state governments. Air, soil, noise and water pollution are big challenges for the community and they’re set to get worse as uranium and other exports out of the Port increase in the next few years."

“We’ve been treated like a dumping ground for too long. We need strong representation on these urgent issues."

“The Port needs alternative employment. Military industries are not the answer. They pose a threat to the security of our region and, ultimately, are not in our defence interests. They are viewed by our neighbours as part of a growing aggressiveness on the part of the US in the Asia-Pacific."

“We certainly don’t want our best and brightest high school students funneled into jobs designing weapons. We need them to work on sustainable energy and infrastructure and other fulfilling jobs in the interests of their communities."

“The redevelopment of the Port needs to show respect for the local people and the area’s working class and Aboriginal history. The efforts so far have not been successful because they demonstrated this lack of respect."

“I look forward to the campaign for the seat of Port Adelaide and the opportunity to highlight the needs of residents of the area."

Special Resolutions of the CPA's 23rd SA State Conference

2011-11-21T13:30:00.002+10:30

The following Special Resolutions were adopted at last Saturday's 23rd SA State Conference of the Communist Party of Australia

Visit by US President Obama’s and the establishment of a US base in Darwin:

“This 23^rd SA State Conference of the Communist Party of Australia condemns the decision of the Federal Government to allow the establishment of a base for US marines and war fighting materiel at Darwin. The move aggravates tensions in the region and is clearly designed ultimately to threaten China. We call on the federal government to reverse this dangerous decision, which has angered our neighbours and locks us more closely into the reckless military strategy of the US.”

Baiada chicken workers:

“This 23^rd SA State Conference of the Communist Party of Australia supports the workers employed at Baiada poultry factories as they strive to achieve regular, secure and safe employment in their industry. We support their right to organise in a union and to bargain collectively without intimidation. We call on Party members to be involved in and promote actions in solidarity with these workers in precarious, arduous and undervalued jobs.”

Cuban Five and the US Blockade:

“This 23^rd SA State Conference of the Communist Party of Australia calls on the Australian government to urge the US to free the Cuban Five; to release the remaining prisoners held unjustly in US jails and to allow René González (who was released recently after having served 13 years on a bogus conviction) to return to Cuba.

“We also demand the US be called upon to lift the inhuman economic, diplomatic, cultural and scientific blockade on Cuba. It does damage to the interests of both Cuba and the US and is seen by the overwhelming majority of the countries of the world as an act of vengeance by a superpower towards a country seeking to exert its sovereignty.”

Colombian political prisoners:

“This 23^rd SA State Conference of the Communist Party of Australia calls on the Australian government to use its influence in dealings with the reactionary government of Colombia to seek a political solution to the armed and social conflict in Colombia, to pursue a humanitarian exchange of prisoners in the decades long conflict in the country and to release the 7,500 political prisoners held in Colombian prisons. We condemn the escalation of the policy of so-called “democratic security” that has recently claimed the life of FARC leader Alfonso Cano who was trying desperately to negotiate a peaceful settlement with the Colombian state.”

Iran:

“This 23^rd SA State Conference of the Communist Party of Australia calls on the Australian government to exert its influence on the US administration to pull back from the brink in its plans for acts of aggression against Iran with the assistance of the right-wing government of Israel. We recognise the repressive nature of the fundamentalist regime in Iran but believe that the task of steering that country to a brighter, more democratic future belongs to the popular forces in that country. We seek to promote the greatest solidarity with those forces.”

Olympic Dam/uranium exports to India:

“This 23^rd SA State Conference of the Communist Party of Australia condemns the decision of the federal and SA state government to approve a massive increase in uranium mining at Olympic Dam by BHP Billiton. The decision poses a grave environmental threat to the country and exacerbates the risks associated with the export of uranium. The radioactive material will ultimately end up in unsafe, privately run reactors like those at Fukushima in Japan.

“The reckless decision to allow exports to India will cause tensions in that volatile region to grow and draw India closer into a nuclear alliance with the US against China. We demand investment in sustainable, peaceful jobs.”

2011-11-19T09:39:00.000+10:30

2011-11-08T17:35:00.000+10:30

Watch out Port Adelaide - deadly waste heading our way!

2011-09-24T16:23:00.003+09:30

It’s time to stand up and say NO we are not a sewage dump location

“HIGH – LEVEL contaminated waste from the new Royal Adelaide Hospital site – deemed too dangerous to stockpile in Adelaide – will be stored out doors in Wingfield,” (Advertiser 17^th September 2011)

The 11,000 tonnes of high-level waste containing arsenic, lead and other carcinogens will be treated along with 80,000 tonnes of low and intermediate-level contaminated waste from the former Adelaide rail yard site.

The Wingfield site will store the highly toxic earth out doors next to the Port River Expressway and close to densely populated suburbs and high density traffic.

Stop treating residents like mushrooms keeping them in the dark

1. Most of the contaminated soil would contain Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are highly carcinogenic. Benzene can cause central nervous system (CNS) dysfunction. Toluene also attacks the CNS. Other toxins are less harmful but combined effects could be significant.

2. Lead is well known to reduce children’s IQ levels and Arsenic a well known poison.

All residents in the Port Adelaide area will be exposed

Dust particulate of 10 microns or less (about half the thickness of a human hair) can be blown to any part of the North Western Suburbs. Toxic substances can cause disease at the site where they enter the body – the lungs, skin, and intestines, in the blood that carries them through the body, in the organs that remove them from the body – the liver, kidneys, and bladder.

What should we do?

Residents must put as much pressure onto the state government as possible to stop using our environment as a sewer dump, write to the press, and take the issue up with the local council, local politicians. To reduce the high health risks the toxic dirt must be completely enclosed including transport trucks to prevent wind blowing dust and rain washing toxins into ground water. The shed housing the toxic dirt must have appropriate filters on exhaust systems to capture at least 99% of any toxic substance being discharged into the outside air.

Elliott Johnston 26 February 1918 – 25 August 2011

2011-08-26T10:08:00.007+09:30

The Communist Party of Australia expresses its great sadness at the news of the passing of Elliott Johnston last night. Elliott was a towering figure in the history of the Communist movement in South Australia and a pillar of strength for the oppressed and marginalised. His career in his beloved legal profession is legend – a judge on the SA Supreme Court Bench, controversial appointment as Queen’s Counsel, head of the Royal Commission into Aboriginal Deaths in Custody. Elliott’s loyalty to the Communist cause was unswerving and his support of many other worthy causes widely known. He was regularly called upon to speak at events where a respected and authoritative voice was needed. His burning desire as he approached the end of his well-lived life was that the forces striving for a brighter future, for socialism, should unite. Let’s carry on in that spirit of unity in action in honour of Elliott Johnston.
Vale Comrade.

Curry with Comrades

2011-07-30T10:17:00.002+09:30

West Adelaide Branch of the Communist Party held its fourth annual Curry with Comrades at the Royal Park Doghouse Club last Saturday Night. A packed hall heard legendary Green Bans pioneer and environmental activist Jack Mundey speak about his experience in the Communist movement and his desire for unity among the forces struggling for socialism. He stressed that only socialism could save the planet from catastrophe and that the socialism of the future must have a central concern for the environment. He praised the comrades in Adelaide for working in a broad and united way with other elements of the left.

Jack has been addressing numerous gatherings lately as Australia commemorates the 40th anniversary of the application of the first Green Bans by the NSW Branch of the Builders Labourers Federation that preserved so much of the cultural heritage of Sydney and elsewhere. Over the weekend In Adelaide he also participated in an event organised by SA Greens entitled "the Green New Deal".

The Curry Night was also addressed by Cuban Consul General Reinaldo Garcia who proposed a toast to Cuba as it prepared to celebrate one of its national days on July 26 - the anniversary of the unsuccessful assault on the Moncada Barracks in 1953 that sparked a revolutionary upsurge that triumphed in 1959. Rex Munn led another rousing rendition of the Internationale at the close of the function.

ADF hits Sydney's streets to prepare for attacks

2011-07-18T17:55:00.005+09:30

As if it's not bad enough that our Defence personnel are being used as cannon fodder in Iraq and Afghanistan, they are now taking to the streets of Sydney "to provide assistance to the people of Australia in times of civil emergency, including in response to terrorist incidents."

In a press release today, the Australian Defence Force (ADF) says that "NSW Police and Sydney-based Australian Defence Force (ADF) personnel will conduct mission rehearsal activities in Sydney during the night of 19 July 2011 into the early morning of 20 July 2011. "

The Communist Party of Australia (SA) didn't realise that the streets of Sydney were a potential war zone? And the timing of this release, just 24 hours before the "war games" are to commence gives us little time to warn our Sydney-based friends and family of the impending carnage. If this is a rehearsal we can only assume that the main event isn't far away.

The CPA (SA) calls on the ADF to reveal the nature of the terrorist threats to our nation's biggest city; the public must be made aware of the risks to their safety so they can look for alternative shelter in Australia's new Malaysian refugee camps.

Defence Industry Expo picketed

2011-06-29T13:47:00.012+09:30

The Defence and Industry Exhibition being held in Adelaide was picketed by members of Left Unity yesterday.

Starting at 8am protestors converged on the Adelaide Convention Centre to oppose the Rann Government's continued investment in and promotion of weapons manufacturing in South Australia.

Calling on the government to redirect spending toward sustainable industries, protestors led chants and displayed banners as hundreds of cars streamed up North Terrace during peak hour, often honking horns in response to a placard (below) reading "Honk for war industries out of our schools."

A highlight of the morning's activities was a banner drop from the Morphett Street Bridge crossing North Terrace.

Channel 7 News were on hand to capture the banner drop which was featured in a 6pm news piece airing protestors concerns about the relationship between US weapons manufacturer Raytheon and Aberfoyle Park High School.

Raytheon, who make cluster and phosphorous bombs and other WMDs used by the US military, entered a "sponsorship" arrangement to supply the school with laptops for use by students involved in the State Government's aptly named "Ignite" program for gifted kids a couple of years ago.

The picket outside the Convention Centre carried on with protestors serenading expo participants, representing the likes of Lockheed Martin and BAE-systems, in the centre's courtyard during a lunch break.

A leaflet drop took place in Rundle Mall during the lunch rush to advertise the main protest at 5pm, with many saying they were against what the State Government is doing.

The well-attended rally was high on energy with many speakers condemning the State Government's military adventures in South Australia.

The Communist Party of Australia was involved in the day's activities with State Secretary Bob Briton interviewed for Channel 7 News.

The fight for a shift toward the development of peaceful and sustainable industries still has a long way to go and the left must continue to pressure the State Government to stop promoting the destructive and deadly industries that produce weapons of attack for imperialism.

All countries need a "defence" force to ensure their sovereignty, but Australia, with a population of only 22 million does not need to spend $87million per day on the military in order to support imperialist US wars.

With a failing health care system, under-funded public schools, outdated and over-priced public transport infrastructure and high long-term unemployment, the taxes of the Australian people will be better spent investing in services that benefit the community, not weapons that maim and kill innocent civilians in countries with whom we have no gripe.

Left Focus Autumn 2011

2011-04-18T17:08:00.003+09:30

Taking Issue with public health reform

2011-04-10T22:36:00.003+09:30

CPA (SA) State Secretary Bob Briton talks about the Federal Government's proposals for health reform which, not surprisingly, will pave the way for private health providers to increase profits at the expense of a well-resourced public health system.

Have your web browser or a pen and paper ready for the end of the podcast when Bob gives details of how to get involved in the CPA's public healthcare campaign.

Three ways to listen:

Check out this link to listen, subscribe to our iTunes feed,or stream from our box widget on the right.

Taking Issue is back!

2011-04-01T15:57:00.005+10:30

After a somewhat lengthy haitus, the CPA (SA) has resumed it's legendary (well almost) podcast Taking Issue. In this first episode for 2011, CPA State Secretary Bob Briton talks about the recent NSW State Election and upcoming May Day festivities. Check it out via this link or stream directly from our Downloads widget on the right.

Left Focus Summer 2011

2011-01-17T13:43:00.001+10:30

Open publication - Free publishing - More pollution

A tragedy unfolds

2011-01-12T15:54:00.004+10:30

There is now no doubt that the rising floodwaters swallowing up that part of Australia ironically known as "The Sunshine State" are the worst seen in decades. As most of us in SA enjoy near perfect summer weather while going about our daily routines, its hard not to be bewildered by what we are seeing on our TV and computer screens (the vision is no less dramatic in the print press).

The SA State Committee of the CPA sends its sympathy to the families who have lost (or will lose) loved ones to these devastating floods and encourages wealthy corporations to donate large amounts of money to the flood relief appeal.

Loss of life at Christmas Island a tragedy

2010-12-15T21:57:00.005+10:30

The sinking today of a boat off Christmas Island carrying a large number of asylum seekers is a terrible tragedy and one that should remind the world of the dangerous lengths people are forced to go to in order to flee persecution and violence.

The State Committee of the CPA expresses sympathy with the survivors, many of whom will have lost family members in this horrific incident.

While supporters of both major parties are busy pointing the finger of blame at each other, it is our position that neither the ALP or the Liberal Party have presided over immigration policy that meets Australia's international obligation to provide a safe haven for asylum seekers. Australia is a wealthy country and its people are, in the main, compassionate. Despite this, successive federal governments have persisted with refugee policy that is inhumane and runs counter to UN human rights conventions.

The CPA (SA) demands that the current Gillard Federal Government acts swiftly to adopt a more compassionate and humanist approach to those seeking asylum in our country; there must be no more tragedies like the one we have witnessed today.

A reminder - Adelaide celebrations of 90 years of Communist movement in Australia

2010-10-21T18:33:00.002+10:30

New video of Liliany Obando & Miguel Angel Beltran

2010-10-04T14:09:00.000+10:30

Left Focus Spring 2010

2010-09-29T10:47:00.000+09:30

Open publication - Free publishing - More socialist

Liliany Obando sends greeting to INSPP

2010-08-07T20:27:00.002+09:30

Socialist folk singer Alistair Hulett dies

2010-01-31T23:52:00.007+10:30

From www.alistairhulett.com

Dear Friends

Sadly, we share with you the news that Alistair Hulett died on the evening of January 28, 2010.

Many friends who have been shocked by the severity and speed of his deterioration have asked for details of his illness.
Alistair became ill very suddenly on New Year's Day 2010 and was hospitalised on January 5 with suspected food poisoning. Liver failure was later diagnosed and it was hoped that he could receive a liver transplant, but further investigation revealed a very aggressive form of cancer which had already spread from his liver to his lungs and stomach. Alistair died peacefully only days after the cancer was first detected.

CPA SA Branch Condolences:

Members of the Communist Party of Australia (South Australian Branch) are deeply saddened by the death of Comrade Alistair Hulett. His insightful songs have inspired workers to rally against the “dictatorship of capital” and will continue to do so long into the future. We are grateful to Alistair for allowing us to use his material in our online productions, his music really is a soundtrack to life. We send our condolences to his close friends and relatives in this difficult time.

Check out Ally with his late mate Jimmy Gregory singing 'The Internationale' on YouTube. Two fine men gone too young.

CPA (SA) expresses solidarity with earthquake victims!

2010-01-14T16:47:00.003+10:30

The people of Haiti were yesterday hit by a devastating, magnitude 7 earthquake. The enormity of this disaster is becoming clearer all the time, with scenes of destruction emerging from the capital Port-au-Prince and surrounding areas. It is likely that thousands have been killed and many thousands have been left homeless by this disaster. It should be remembered that the people of Haiti have had to endure a number of traumas in recent years, from political upheavals and interference to natural disasters, including the severe Hurricane season of 2008, when 4 Hurricanes hit killing over 800 and causing considerable destruction. The Communist Party of Australia (SA) expresses it's solidarity with the people of Haiti, and it's deep sympathy for the victims of this terrible earthquake. We would encourage people to consider donating to earthquake appeals and organisations such as Red Cross who are heavily involved in aiding the victims.

2009-12-14T21:53:00.000+10:30

Say NO to privatisation

2009-10-11T16:09:00.004+10:30

On the occasion of the 11th Congress of the Communist Party of Australia, delegates marched through the streets of Sydney to voice their disapproval of the Rees Government's plans to sell of various publicly owned assets.

The Guardian #1426, September 2, 2009

2009-09-04T12:03:00.004+09:30

Open publication - Free publishing - More workers weekly

Create jobs in renewable not military industries

2009-08-26T14:33:00.003+09:30

The State Committee of the Communist Party of Australia expressed its outrage today that the Rann Government is encouraging the expansion of war industries in the State of South Australia.”

“The recent announcement that Lockheed Martin will expand its workforce by four times in the is only the latest example of a major shift away from peaceful industries to war industries,” says CPA State Secretary Bob Briton.

“What we have here is a State Government that is out of touch with the people. Over 100,000 South Australians hit the streets of Adelaide to oppose the war in Iraq and the vast majority of those people would be very concerned at the propositions being put forward by the Rann Government and Lockheed Martin, one of the beneficiaries of that war,” he said.

“Investment in replacement industries to make up for the loss of manufacturing jobs should be the government’s priority, not investment in an industry that profits from the deaths of innocent civilians around the world,” said Mr Briton.

“Investment needs to be directed towards priorities such as alternative energy sources and other social needs. War industries divert investment away from these urgently needed areas and increase tensions in our region."

“Many South Australians would also be concerned about the potential for a terrorist attack at any U.S naval or military base that might be located in our State,” he said.

“The State Committee of the CPA opposes the development of war industries and the Rann Government’s support for their development in South Australia. Instead, the CPA would welcome a return to social obligation being a priority for a Labor government,” he added.

Letter to Obama re Cuban Five

2009-07-31T14:26:00.008+09:30

Dear President Obama,

I am writing to express the concern held in many quarters of the Australian community about the ongoing denial of justice for the prisoners known internationally as the Cuban Five who are being held in separate penitentiaries in your country.

As you would know, they have been imprisoned since 1998 for convictions arising from their infiltration of Cuban terror groups based in Miami. The Australian people have shown great sympathy over the years for the Five and understand perfectly the need the Cubans had to defend themselves by being forewarned about impending attack.
We were disappointed that your Administration intervened in the recent Supreme Court proceedings to recommend that a review of their convictions be rejected. We saw the large number of amicus curiae statements from world renowned figures and the powerful arguments advanced for these anti-terrorists to be set free.

It is perplexing that known terrorists such as Posada Cariles continue to walk free in the United States while plainly decent and patriotic Cubans like the Five remain incarcerated.We are concerned that there appears to be an attempt to split the cases of the Five by re-sentencing three of them while upholding the sentences of Gerardo Hernandez and Rene Gonzalez. We urge you to look into the refusal of visas to the Adriana Perez, the wife of Gerardo, and Olga Salanueva, the wife of Rene. The separation of these prisoners from their wives and their families is cruel and a denial of internationally observed prisoner rights.

We recognise the appalling situation of the denial of rights to the Cuban Five is an inheritance from previous administrations. We look forward to your intervention to remove this stain on the human rights record of the United States.

Yours sincerely,
Dr Hannah Middleton
General Secretary
Communist Party of Australia

Rann worried by developers?

2009-07-29T13:17:00.000+09:30

Looks like the people of SA will be the last ones to know the detail of the Rann Government’s 30 year Plan for Greater Adelaide. It has refused a request from Greens MLC Mark Parnell to make available a report about future housing development and re-zoning because it is “potentially highly commercially sensitive,” as Urban Development and Planning Minister Paul Holloway put it. Strange, then, that the author of the report is working for property developers seeking to re-zone and develop the same land identified in the report. Exactly who is the government worried might get their hands on some really first rate real estate tip-offs?

Happy ending in SA 457 case – risky system remains

2009-07-29T13:10:00.003+09:30

The case of the nine Filipino painters ripped off by painting contractor Paint Professionals in Adelaide has ended well overall. The Construction, Forestry, Mining and Engineering Union (CFMEU) in South Australia has found the men alternative employment and the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIC) has withdrawn the company’s authorisation to sponsor 457 visa-holding workers for three years. The company could be fined over the scandal and its director could face up to 10 years imprisonment. Unfortunately, while the workers have had their lives turned upside-down, the company is carrying on with business as usual and the 457 visa system that invites abuse of foreign workers remains in place.

The Filipinos came to the notice of local workers on an Adelaide construction site last month. They were quiet and kept to themselves. They weren’t aware of safety issues on the job. When their circumstances were investigated it was found that the men were owed back-pay of around $150,000. The nine of them were being charged between $250 and $350 each to live in the same suburban house. One of the men was paying the rent even though he was living elsewhere with his sister.

The workers were brought to Australia as painters but two of them were computer technicians, another was a carpenter and another a plasterer. They were promised $43,000 a year for working a standard 38 hour week. At times they were working up to 70 hours a week for no extra pay and not in the jobs they’d been promised when they were recruited in the Philippines.

The workers had been told to stay away from the union and that local workers did not appreciate their working on local sites. However, local workers, the CFMEU and the migrant community have been very generous in their support. SA State Secretary of the CFMEU’s Construction and General Division, Martin O’Malley, has also praised the Immigration Department officers involved in the case for their thoroughness and assistance. In this instance the Department was not the problem; it was the wide scope for abuse of the 457 system under the current legislation. It was one of Howard’s gifts to shady employers.

The CFMEU is opposed the 457 “guest worker” program. “The policy in our union, and we’d encourage it in any union, is if they want to bring people over to work in Australia they have to be given the opportunity to live in Australia,” Martin O’Malley told The Guardian. “This thing about being able to come over for two years or four years is just a load of bloody rubbish. That’s just a recipe for disaster and exploitation. If people are given the opportunity, they’re brought over here, they’ve got the skills and they want to work here they should be given the opportunity then to stay here,” he said.

CPA SA State Conference

2009-07-21T17:06:00.003+09:30

The Communist Party's 22nd SA State Conference was held last Saturday and concluded with a public event attended by representatives of trade unions, political parties, solidarity groups and members of the community.

Party President Vinnie Molina spoke on developments in Latin America and guests heard a recorded message from a political prisoner in Colombia wishing the Conference success. At its conclusion, Port Adelaide Branch member Rex Munn led the gathering in a memorably rousing rendition of the Internationale.

The Conference heard reports and considered a document to be finalised at the Party's Congress in Sydney in October. The following motions were passed by the Conference:

The SA State Conference of the CPA condemns the recent decision by Fair Pay Australia to effectively cut the wages of Australia’s lowest paid workers. The Federal Government’s statements that it would have preferred a modest increase are not convincing. The decision should be overturned and relief given to these workers and their families struggling with rising utility, petrol and food prices and spiralling rents. Reducing these workers’ purchasing power will not help the current economic crisis; it will be worsened.

The SA State Conference of the CPA adds its voice to the growing international chorus of condemnation of the recent coup in Honduras. The US government’s response is weak and must be made proportionate to the massive violation of the rights of the Honduran people. The Australian government must use its influence on its US counterpart and join efforts to ensure the restoration of the legitimate government of President Manuel Zelaya.

This South Australian State Conference of the Communist Party of Australia sends greetings to the Cuban Five and a message of solidarity. This Conference rejects the recent decision of the US Supreme Court on June 15 not to review the cases of the five Cuban anti-terrorists. It calls on US President Obama to pardon them and send them home. The Conference also rejects moves in the US legal system to split the case of the Five by resentencing three of them while upholding the sentences handed down to Gerardo and René. We pledge our commitment to campaigning for their freedom.

Speak out about Honduras coup

2009-07-07T19:09:00.005+09:30

The FMLN in Adelaide has called for a protest against the coup in Honduras and for the return of the legitimate government of President Manuel Zelaya. The military and the local oligarchy (with suspected assistance from the CIA) have reacted against changes sweeping Latin America and attempted to turn back the clock on social progress. Members of parliament and foreign ambassadors have been detained and abused. Unionists and student leaders have been rounded up. Protestors have been shot. The elected President has been prevented from returning home to his people. Speak out by being there!

When? From 4 till 5pm on Friday July 10

Where? Steps of Parliament House, Adelaide

Organised by? The Farabundo Marti National Liberation Front of El Salvador in Adelaide

Just another cog in the machine

2009-07-06T23:47:00.002+09:30

CPA condemns ABCC, supports worker Ark

2009-06-10T20:18:00.007+09:30

The Communist Party of Australia calls on the Rudd Labor Government to abolish the ABCC at its first opportunity. The ABCC is a secret police force that targets innocent, hard-working Australians on the grounds that they work in the construction industry. It's that simple.

The ABCC possesses coercive powers akin to those used against terrorist organisations. If hauled in by the ABCC, workers have no right to silence, they must answer questions or risk a fine of up to $22,000 and a prison sentence of up to six months!

Adelaide rigger Ark Tribe is the first rank-and-file member of the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) to be charged by the ABCC. Mr Tribe is now facing six months jail for allegedly not attending a "compulsory" interview with the ABCC.

Yesterday, Ark Tribe's case was adjourned until August 11 at the Elizabeth Magistrates Court. A large crowd of around 200 trade unionists and supporters rallied outside in support of the man who, perhaps unwittingly, has become the face of the campaign to shut down the ABCC. Ark has had the courage to stand up for his basic human rights in an industrial system that seems intent on taking them away and we commend him for it.

However, one so-called trade union leader is not quite as supportive. An article on the front page of today's Australian quotes SDA National Secretary Joe De Bruyn as saying the Rudd Government has no mandate to shut down the ABCC.

According to de Bruyn, the government "doesn't have a mandate for that in its current term of office because it didn't say that to the people of Australia when it went to the polls."

Such a comment is to be expected from the right-wing de Bruyn. The ALP-aligned Shop Distributors and Allied Employers Association is hardly representative of the working class movement in this country and is unlikely to be standing in the corner of the CFMEU when the going gets tough.

But nonetheless, it's a shame that de Bruyn finds it necessary to publicly support the ALP's so-called Fair Work Act while sticking the knife into one of Australia's most progressive unions. He should be ashamed of himself and resign - he has no right to call himself a trade unionist.

Follow Ark's case on the campaign website arkstribe.org.au.

Strong support for Ark Tribe

2009-06-09T14:26:00.004+09:30

Hundreds of workers and other supporters formed a guard of honour as Ark Tribe entered the Elizabeth Magistrates Court this morning. They had gathered to express their solidarity with the rank and file building worker who has been charged by the Australian Building and Construction Commission with failing to attend an interrogation about a union meeting about safety at the Flinders University Health Sciences building. He faces six months jail and fines of up to $22,000 if convicted. The matter has been adjourned until August 11.

CFMEU Construction and General SA Secretary Martin O’Malley, CFMEU National Assistant Secretary Lindsay Fraser and SA Unions Secretary Janet Giles all pledged their organisations’ support for Ark. The crowd swore the oath first taken by the workers who made their stand at the Eureka Stockade in 1854:

“We swear by the Southern Cross to stand truly by each other and fight to defend our rights and liberties.”

Don't jail Ark Tribe, shut down the ABCC!

2009-06-08T22:54:00.003+09:30

The fate of an Adelaide building worker will be decided in the Elizabeth Magistrates court today. Ark Tribe is alleged to have failed to attend an interrogation of the ABCC (Australian Building and Construction Commission) and faces up to six months jail if convicted.

"What we have here is yet another example of why the Federal Government must move immediately to shut down the ABCC," Communist Party of Australia State Secretary Bob Briton said yesterday.

"This body has unprecedented powers, and its existence ensures that workers and their representatives in the building and construction industry are treated differently under the law to other workers."

"Workers and union representatives called to appear before this body are even denied the basic right to remain silent. This places them in a situation worse than that of alleged terror suspects," he continued.

"At the last federal election, the Australian people voted in a Labor government, believing this would lead to the restoration of the rights of workers and unions. The fact that this government has failed to shut down a body of this nature is a breach of faith with the Australian people."

"The government's plan to move the ABCC and its powers within Fair Work Australia is frankly no more than window dressing. It does not alter the fact that this body will still have the power to intimidate and bully building and construction workers and their representatives, and will do little to restore basic fundamental rights", said Mr Briton.

"The Communist Party of Australia totally supports the efforts of construction workers and their unions and calls on the Federal Government to immediately shut down the ABCC," he concluded.

Supporters of Ark Tribe will gather at Elizabeth Magistrates Court at 9am this morning.

Follow us on Twitter

2009-06-07T21:27:00.004+09:30

We at the CPA are convinced that all creatures great and small will one day benefit from a socialist revolution - birds included. So it stands to reason that we should be tweeting. Click here to follow us on Twitter.

Lartelare - nice park but not what was needed

2009-06-07T11:09:00.007+09:30

Lartelare – a park named after the last Kaurna elder to live in the traditional manner on lands in Port Adelaide – was officially opened last Friday. It contains sensitive interpretations of traditional implements and a wodli – the shelters used by the Port River people before they were sent to missions at the turn of the twentieth century. The CSR plant stood on the Glanville site until the early 90s when the disused sugar mill burnt down. Hopes were high the land would be handed back to the traditional owners but the South Australian Government handed it over to a consortium of developers instead. Lartelare Park sits amidst blocks of luxury apartments and marinas. It is of little practical use to the local Aboriginal community.

Lartelare’s great grand daughter, Auntie Veronica Brodie, fought for years to have the land returned to the traditional owners for use as an aged care facility or a Kaurna cultural centre. Neither proposal received official backing. Auntie Veronica passed away in 2007 with her wishes unfulfilled. Her family were at the opening on Friday. Daughter Margaret (photo above) spoke emotionally about her mother’s vision; how it was thwarted by reports of land contamination and lack of government support. She thanked designers, artists and council staff for working with her family to produce such a pleasing park. SA Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Jay Weatherill recalled a discussion with Auntie Veronica in hospital before she died and the commitment he made to her to build a cultural centre in Port Adelaide.

The Lartelare Glanville Land Action Group founded by Auntie Veronica will be meeting soon to discuss the next steps in their long-running campaign.

Foley’s Budget gets big business thumbs up – hits low paid, pensioners

2009-06-06T00:45:00.000+09:30

“Peter Vaughan of Business SA has given Kevin Foley’s latest Budget the thumbs up but it’s one in the eye for the low paid and pensioners,” Bob Briton, State Secretary of the Communist Party of Australia, said last night.

“The people with the least resources will be paying the most for Foley’s golden credit card with extra water charges, increased car registration and public transport costs,” he continued. “The meagre increases given via the aged pension in the Federal Budget would by now have been wiped out.”

“The Premier claims the heart of the Budget is water and the heart of that is the desalination plant. The spending on the desal project absolutely eclipses other water commitments and, together with the attack on public transport users, shows just how out of touch the government is from the environmental needs of the time,” Mr Briton added.

“The capping of public services wage increases at 2.5 percent locks in a pay cut for these workers meaning lower living standards, reduced purchasing power and downwards pressure on the economy. Workers and small business are being handed the bill for the recession.”

“The effective wage cut will make it harder to attract teachers to public education and nurses and midwives to the public health system. Our Party will support union efforts to resist this wrongheaded approach,” Mr Briton concluded.

Taking Issue with the ABCC

2009-05-18T22:51:00.007+09:30

The first in a three part series on the Australian Building Construction Commission
(ABCC) is now online. Click here to go to our podcast page to stream online or download.

You can also stream from the box widget on the right of this page or subscribe to our iTunes feed.

In this episode we speak with CFMEU National Secretary Dave Noonan on the ABCC and its use of coercive powers to prosecute building workers and union officials for carrying out normal union activity.

Relevant Links:

CFMEU campaign website Rights on Site
Building Industry Documentary Constructing Fear

More wars to drive economy, destroy lives

2009-05-03T13:21:00.004+09:30

“Spending billions of dollars on the biggest military build up in Australia since WWII is a military ‘economic stimulus’ that our country simply cannot afford,” Dr Middleton, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Australia, said today, following the release of the Federal Government’s Defence White Paper.

“The Government is following a familiar path. Capitalism has always used war and preparations for war as a way out of its regular economic crises.

“The US staved off serious recession for 20 years, largely through profit-generating wars and preparation for war. and the massive accumulation of debt.

“Following a recession in 1982 and 1983, US President Reagan stimulated the economy with $2.8 trillion in military spending, using Cold War propaganda to justify this huge handout to the military-industrial complex.

“War is the supreme destructive activity of capitalism which can provide seemingly limitless markets, which can absorb limitless credits, which can raise prices and revive profits, which can use production to produce super profits through slaughter.

“War consumes weapons and equipment generating further orders, it offers the private sector profits from being integrated in the war machine itself during war, and then it provides billions of more profits from reconstruction programs.

“Never mind the lives that are lost and other devastation -- if war is more profitable than providing schools, health services, food, drinking water, housing, then capitalism will go to war.

“In times of recession, capitalist states like Australia promote war and the threat of war to ensure the protection and expansion of corporate empires and to divert working people from their economic problems.

“While the world suffers under the growing economic recession, leading armaments corporations and military contractors are still reporting super-profits.

“Lockheed Martin raked in almost US$5 billion in profits in 2008. In January 2009 Raytheon predicted continued growth in sales and earnings. BAE Systems boasted a 93 per cent profit increase in 2008 due to the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

“High military spending takes money away from employment, public health, education, housing, clean water, environmental protection, infrastructure projects, etc. Money invested here would provide jobs, stimulate the economy and bring many other benefits now and into the future.

CPA South Australian State Secretary Bob Briton says the procurement of large military contracts for South Australia is not in the public interest.

"There are a lots of urgent things we should be doing to stimulate the economy, things that don't pose a threat to people's lives and don't increase tensions in the region. We should be looking to develop innovative sustainable industries, properly fund public education and health and forge stronger ties with our asia-pacific neighbours," said Mr Briton.

"It's about time the Rann State Government ended its love affair with the military industries and looked to develop peaceful and environmentally sustainable industries," he added.

Rann handing over resources for a song

2009-04-29T19:19:00.004+09:30

It's no secret that SA is a virtual gold mine for the likes of Marathon Resources, the company planning to destroy Arkaroola Sanctuary in the near future. But what is the benefit for SA? Of course, the likely environmental devastation alone is reason enough to oppose any uranium mine but that aside the social rewards for the average South Australian are minimal.

In a press release earlier this week, Greens MLC Mark Parnell made a point that even the most reactionary greenie-basher would find hard to argue with. Citing research from SA Unions, and perhaps realising that mining isn't likely to come to an end in the near future, Mr Parnell has called on the Rann Government to increase Government revenue from mining which, at the moment, is about half of that in most other states. Read the full release here.

Crush Tom's Car!

2009-04-29T16:10:00.002+09:30

Wanna give Creeping Tom some of his own medicine? Here's your chance. Click here and start crushing!!!

Speed definitely kills

2009-04-26T22:54:00.003+09:30

Koutsantonis is proof. If it wasn't paid for with our taxes I'd recommend he watch his car(s) being crushed..sorry, too much Tomfoolery.

Creeping Tom - Our Minister for Speed

2009-04-20T13:03:00.007+09:30

It's been revealed that newly promoted Labor Minister Tom Koutsantonis has something of a professional conflict. The apparently "talented" young MP was assigned the portfolio of Minister for Road Safety last month despite his despicable driving record - according to the Sunday Mail he's been booked no less than 32 times for speeding and other serious traffic offences since 1994!

Ironically, the Minister's department is currently running a campaign against drivers who "creep" over the limit. Mr Koutsantonis' only defence for his actions when interviewed on ABC 891 Mornings earlier today was to deny that he is a "hoon" and that he just "crept" over the limit a few times while running late to work!

It must be asked: how can any person act as an effective advocate for road safety when they possess such a disgraceful driving record of their own? Of course, they can't. Mr Koutsantonis should resign from his position immediately.

Premier Mike Rann has backed his speeding Minister by arguing that none of the offences happened during his parliamentary tenure and that he will not stay in the job if he re-offends. This just isn't good enough. Koutsantonis was clearly an extremely poor choice for such a role. The Premier is covering his own backside by not standing him down, and in the process is undermining the great work of organisations who are doing something to reduce road tragedy, like the RAA for example.

The RAA recently held a mock accident at the Entertainment Centre to drive home the dangers of excessive speed and dangerous driving to young teenagers - a great initiative which I'm sure made an impact on those who attended. Education programs such as these should not be undermined by our State Government who are seemingly happy to maintain a disturbing double-standard.

But as is the case in the capitalist system, it's not what you know it's who you know or who you are. I don't suppose the average citizen on the street would be afforded such forgiveness for crimes committed under Mike Rann's tough on crime regime.

The ALP are, by all accounts, a laughing stock.
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Media Release: Communist Alliance registered

2009-03-23T16:19:00.002+10:30

In recent days, the Australian Electoral Commission approved the application of the newly formed Communist Alliance, a decision which will see communist candidates contesting seats at the next federal election.

The Communist Party of Australia (CPA) is the largest of a number of organisations making up the Alliance. CPA (SA) State Secretary, Bob Briton, says the registration of the Alliance gives the Australian people the opportunity to cast a vote for genuinely progressive and working class candidates.

"It's been a number of years since a communist contested a seat in a federal or state election, but with the global economic crisis deepening, we think people are seriously questioning the ability of the major political parties to manage society. The majority of Australian voters want to elect people that represent their interests rather than those of big business and finance,” he said.

"The CPA has a thorough political program which has been democratically developed over many years. It's an advanced program that is based primarily on democratic rights, social justice and sound economic management. Unlike the major political parties, we see the basic needs of working people and families as paramount."

"Among other economically responsible reforms, we are calling for a national super scheme and the nationalisation of the banking sector. We think that these are important first steps in securing the economic livelihoods of all Australians," said Mr. Briton.

"We believe the major crisis we’re presently facing shouldn't be narrowly described as merely a crisis of finance; it is yet another in a long line of crises brought on by an economic system that is being called into serious question by millions of people around the world. We need a government that will protect its citizens from the worst excesses of this flawed system while building a prosperous future for all Australians," said Mr. Briton.

"The Communist Alliance will run candidates in South Australia and around the country. We expect to receive substantial support at the ballot box. The Australian people believe in the idea of a fair go for all and we're the only political organisation with a program that can achieve it," he said.

"The Communist Party of Australia was at the forefront of major democratic rights movements through most of the last century and we intend to play a similar role into the future," he added.

Taking Issue with Rann's water plan

2009-03-15T00:52:00.005+10:30

While its supporters argue that Mike Rann’s state government has no choice but to build a desalination plant at Port Stanvac in the Gulf of St. Vincent, the plant’s opponents argue that its impact on the marine environment alone is reason enough to pull the plug on the project. They maintain that there is an obvious alternative. Go to our box widget on the right to stream in your browser or listen via our podcast page. You can also subscribe to our feed in iTunes.

Support Australian manufacturing jobs!

2009-03-12T14:57:00.006+10:30

Clothing manufacturer Pacific Brands' announcement to shed 1850 manufacturing jobs is yet another example of industry putting profit before people. They argue that they cannot afford to maintain production in Australia yet they can pay their executives in excess of $1.5million dollars per annum. Their move overseas is a rort and morally disgusting.

Click here to visit the TCFUA's campaign website and sign the petition.

Wage Labour and Capital

2009-03-08T22:20:00.008+10:30

The writings of Karl Marx are as relevant today as they were when this was written in 1847. Printed in the U.S.S.R by Progress Publishers (Moscow) in 1981, Wage Labour & Capital is a must read for anyone looking for a thorough understanding of the role and place of labour and "labour power" in a capitalist economy.

This copy of Marx's classic analysis is in near perfect condition and can be purchased for just $7 (including GST & postage to anywhere in Australia). Click on the button below to get your copy while stocks last. We accept payment via credit card or log in to pay using your PayPal account.

Taking Issue with Pacific Brands

2009-03-03T10:15:00.008+10:30

In this episode of Taking Issue we look at the sacking of 1850 workers by Australian manufacturer Pacific Brands. The company announced this week that it plans to move its operation offshore. You can stream from our box widget on the right or here at our podcast site. Alternatively, you can subscribe in iTunes here.

Communist Party elects new General Secretary

2009-02-23T16:26:00.009+10:30

The Communist Party of Australia last weekend elected a new leadership after the death of long time General Secretary Peter Symon. The Party has for the first time elected a woman to the position of Party General Secretary, well known political activist and former Party President Dr. Hannah Middleton.

Dr. Middleton was elected unanimously to the Party’s highest leadership position. Guatemalan born West Australian trade unionist Vinnie Molina was elected as the CPA’s new National President. For the first time in two decades the Party elected a National Organiser Denis Doherty.

“This election signals a process of renewal and reinvigoration for the Communist Party”, said Central Committee Chairperson Warren Smith.

“Capitalism is undergoing yet another severe crisis and the people of Australia are looking for answers to why their jobs are being lost and why their savings and their hard earned superannuation contributions are going down the gurgler. They are questioning the greed and dysfunction inherent in the capitalist system.

“In the CPA’s view the government should create a national superannuation fund and a nationally owned bank.”

The Party is riding a wave at present with the recently announced registration of the Communist Alliance of which the CPA is a member. “Registration of the Communist Alliance will allow the name Communist to appear on Australian federal ballot papers.”

Capitalist greed on display in bushfire aftermath

2009-02-21T10:02:00.005+10:30

While there have been great stories of altruism and generosity from the Australian people in the wake of the recent bushfires, a Victorian nursing home has apparently forced one of it's staff, a CFA volunteer, to use annual leave days and pay for the time spent fighting the fires. Click here to read the report on the ABC's news site.

South African Communists send condolences after bushfires

2009-02-17T20:33:00.004+10:30

Dear Comrades,

The South African Communist Party is deeply shocked at the enormous loss of lives in wildfires across Australia. We wish to convey our heartfelt condolences to all families of the victims, in which it is believed that close to 200 people, have died.

Whilst the cause of the fires is yet to be ascertained, we are hopeful that more profound measures regarding environmental disaster awareness, climate change, early warning systems will be put in place.

The SACP would be pleased by a demonstration of deep national unity and a mobilisation of all efforts towards urgent rescue operations, saving lives as a priority, with comprehensive medical treatment of the injured, shelter, transport and the provision of basics.

It would be a fitting memory to those who lost their lives if the state takes a proactive lead and do more than adequate, assisted by an alert international community in providing humanitarian and other interventions, subdue and eliminate the fires and the normalization of peoples lives.

Our deepest sympathies to all those who lost their loved ones.

Blade Nzimande
General Secretary
South African Communist Party

New series of The Guardian Podcast begins

2009-02-14T16:39:00.004+10:30

The first episode of our new series of podcasts is available in the box widget on the right of this page. In this first episode for 2009 we speak with CPA State Secretary Bob Briton on the recent bushfires in Victoria.

You can stream the podcast in the player or you can download to your computer. If you're an iTunes user you can subscribe to the podcast here.

Support South Australian Public Schools

2009-02-07T00:29:00.007+10:30

The Australian Education Union (AEU) is running a sophisticated community campaign in an attempt to stop the State Government cutting vital funds to public schools. SA Premier Mike Rann, the self-dubbed "Education Premier", is now running the state with the worst paid teachers and education support staff. In what is effectively a wage freeze, South Australian public education workers have not seen an increase in pay since the beginning of October 2007.

This is in stark contrast with almost all other State and Territory governments who have succumbed to public pressure and an ever-increasing rate of inflation and offered substantial improvements to pay and conditions. Inflation for most of 2008 ran at approximately 5.2 percent. Despite this, Mike "Education" Rann and his team of inept Ministers have made every excuse under the sun in order to keep their offer well below CPI.

The AEU is also seriously concerned about a new funding model touted by the State Government as "student-centred". This couldn't be further from the truth. The funding model proposed would see schools allocated funds on a per-capita basis. While this may sound reasonable or even sensible, the model is seriously flawed.

Currently school staffing is based on enrolment numbers rather than a per-student dollar amount. For example, say the maximum class size is 30 and due to a new enrolment a class gains an extra student. Because that class now exceeds the maximum allowable number of students, the class will be split and become two classes. Under the Government's propsed model, each student will come with a dollar figure attached, somewhere between $2500 and $10,000 dollars - with the average likely to be between four and five thousand dollars. In order to fund a new teacher, a class would need to gain at least ten students before there is enough money available for the school to hire a new teacher.

So, as you can see, the Rann funding model just doesn't add up. Media Mike and his cronies have done a stellar job painting the current dispute as one based on salaries. They have gone to great lengths to label the teachers' claim as greedy and fanciful. Despite their best efforts, the AEU has struggled to defeat the government media spin. The new campaign is a bold and sophisticated attempt at countering Rann's rantings with a web and advertising based campaign in the community.

Click here to go the Apple for Teacher website. When you arrive, click on the links on the right-hand side of the page in order to sign the petition and send an e-apple to the four key government ministers. Oh, and don't be surprise when you receive a message from so-called Education Minister Jane Lomax-Smith telling you that it's not her problem. Her stock email response states that the dispute sits outside the Education portfolio and to direct all correspondence to Industrial Relations Minister Paul Caica. Such is the value this government places on our children's futures.

Communist Legend Dies

2008-12-20T09:48:00.006+10:30

Peter Symon 1922 - 2008

We regret to announce the death of Comrade Peter Symon, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Australia on Thursday, 18th December.

Comrade Symon was a life-long Communist and Australia's greatest Marxist. He gave his life to the Party and the struggle of the workers for real change. His contribution was through difficult times. Not once did Comrade Peter waver from the principles of Marxism-Leninism. His philosophical and dialectical materialist approach kept our Party on course through the most trying times. Our ongoing unity and determination to win a socialist future lies at the heart of our memories and our respect for our leader and teacher.

Central Committee

Communist Party of Australia

Open Letter from Comrade Liliany Obando

2008-09-27T15:35:00.003+09:30

Women’s Prison, Bogotá, Colombia. September 3, 2008

As at no other time in the life of the nation, the loss of credibility of public institutions now has a direct correlation with the mafia style of governance.
Para-politics is the crime of bribery that favoured Uribe’s re-election; it is the links between government officials, the district attorney office and State security with the cartels of the paramilitary mafia; the failed “process” of demobilization of the paramilitaries and the strange extradition of paramilitary bosses closing off the possibility of knowing the truth demanded by their victims; the repeated attempts of the government to undermine the autonomy and the independence of the justice system particularly, the Supreme Court of Justice; the politicization of the office of the Attorney General in favour of the government; the military incursions outside the national territory and the unfortunate diplomatic handling of matters with the progressive governments of the region. These are just some elements that provide evidence of the lack of governability in the country and call into question the existence of real democracy.

Neither the Colombian people, nor for the international community find it strange that the Colombian government resorts to manoeuvres and smoke screens every time it confronts a new scandal providing evidence of its illegality and illegitimacy.
On this occasion the Uribe government, in a rehash of the darkest days of state terrorism, has unleashed another “witch-hunt” against the political opposition. Last May 22, in a public address to the press the Attorney General of the country, Mario Iguarán, and the Defence Minister, Juan Manuel Santos, announced the beginning of the process that has been called “farc-politica” [1]; a judicial process derived from emails supposedly found on the computer of the late leader of the FARC, Raul Reyes, after the military incursion into Ecuadorean territory last 1st of March 08. After which, they proceeded to read a list of the persons presumed to be implicated in the supposed emails. They were all leaders of the national and international opposition: members of congress, academics, journalists and other well-known personalities.

On the 8th August, it was published in the mass media that an investigation was opened with an order for my capture, as one of those mentioned on the list of the “farc-politica”. A few hours later, my place of residence was raided and I was taken away under “preventative” arrest. I was then taken to the facilities of the Anti-terrorism Unit of DIJIN (judicial police) and six days later, jailed at the Women’s Prison in Bogotá.

During the raid conducted by the DIJIN on my home, a number of irregularities took place which today I would like to publicly denounce:

• My young children (5 and 15 years old) were filmed without authorization.
• My 15 year old son was verbally abused and intimidated. On many occasion during the raid he was queried, and I quote, “are you going to follow in your mothers foot steps?”
• The illegal seizure of personal items and documents belonging to my mother and children (bank statements, passports and laptop) that had no connection to the proceedings against me.
• The manipulated filming and later the leaking to the press of documents and books freely available for public sale that were presented in the media as subversive propaganda.
• The aberrant seizure of public documents like the constitution of the Communist Youth, other documents referring to the Communist Party, a book with the title “Bolivar for Children”, etc and even the absurd action of taking a school assignment belonging to my son, who is in year 9, that deals with the Colombian conflict.

It warrants attention as to how, the images taken during the raid were so “efficiently” distributed to be widely published by the media even before the raid had finished, while the captain of the DIJIN told me that “they would make me nationally and internationally famous.”

While unaware of the details of the judicial process initiated by the Anti-terrorist Unit against me, which is also an illegal practice that violates due process and the presumption of innocence while under investigation is lost, the state intelligence and the juridical authorities in charge also systematically leaked to the media – in particular to the EL TIEMPO newspaper – some of the supposed emails and defamatory statements against me, such as the supposed intimate relationship with the assassinated leader of the FARC, Raul Reyes. I denounce and reject this irresponsible and clearly ill-intentioned defamation that has been presented publicly against me, violating my dignity, my honour and my right to privacy as a woman and as a mother, as a professional and an activist of the left. I do this also because it is part of the government’s insidious strategy to damage the image of revolutionary organizations and their leaders.

I would also like to denounce publicly how violating the Penal Code penalises my fundamental rights as the head of my family and those of my children. The Attorney 19 of the Anti-terrorist Special Unit, Nancy Esperanza Pardo Bonilla has denied my right to home detention. A decision we reject and with my defence team we are appealing against it.

I also publicly denounce and express my profound concern at the surveillance that my 15 years old son has become victim of since my detention.
I hold the government and its security forces directly responsible for any actions that harm the physical and moral integrity of my family or mine.
I request the solidarity of all progressive and human rights organizations and ask them to take the necessary measures for the protection of my family.
It is very clear that the so-called process of FARC POLITICA is more an act of political persecution than a legal case and that it is full of illegalities. With my defence team we have decided:

1. Not to recognize the supposed emails found in the computer of the late leader of FARC Raul Reyes as evidence against me because, these emails were obtained from an illegal military action on 1 st March organized outside the national territory and violating Ecuadorean territorial sovereignty since this action had no authorization from either the Ecuadorean government or police or the judicial authorities of that country.

2. To reject the emails as valid evidence against me, not only because they where obtained after an illegitimate act of war in which civilians and guerrillas who were in the camp of Raul Reyes were
murdered as it was recognized by the Organization of American States (OAS) but also because a cloud of doubt exists over their veracity and the manipulation they were subjected to.

3. Publicly denounce the Office of the Attorney General for starting the process of accusations against many leaders of the opposition and national and international personalities based only on the supposed emails illegally obtained that lack validity as evidence.

4. Publicly denounce Judge 60 of the Bogotá Control of Guarantees for validating the illegally obtained evidence.

5. Denounce the report of the Judicial Police for ideological falsehood, expressing the facts that took place on 1 st March 2008 in a misleading way from the computers presumably obtained and that are
now used with the intention of accusing us.

6. To turn to international organisations due to the lack of credibility and legitimacy enjoyed by those responsible for justice in Colombia.
Before the national and international anti-terrorist crusade the Colombian government had already begun organizing against the political opposition. It is not indifference or fear that immobilizes and gags or a weak attitude or lack of solidarity that will keep us safe. It is not by denying the political fighters or revolutionary organizations or the struggle of the people that will lead us out of the `dark night’.
Only unity in action, mobilization, solidarity and adherence to revolutionary principles allows us to confront the difficult moments and advance towards the construction of a real democracy, and political inclusion and the long yearned for Peace with Social Justice.

Finally, I would like to thank all the expressions of solidarity made by national and international, trade unions, social, political and human rights organizations as well as all those committed to social justice.

I thank those that have recognised my work as an academic and social activist in the defence of human rights in pursuit of peace with social justice for our country.
Here we carry on with high morale in this new battle because the imprisonment of our bodies does not mean the renunciation of our ideals or our principles which remain free.

Fraternally,
Liliany Obando
Political Prisoner
Prisoner of conscience
Communist activist
Survivor of the genocide against the Union Patriótica
[1] Farc-Politica, a process known as Farc-politics

Stop the terror campaign in Colombia!

2008-09-23T09:34:00.003+09:30

The South Australian State Committee of the Communist Party of Australia condemns the actions of the government of Colombia in mounting an increasingly aggressive witch hunt against its opponents. A terror campaign (known as "FARC-politics") has been launched to distract domestic and international attention away from the scandalous associations of leading government figures with ruthless paramilitary forces and the narcotics trade in Colombia. Leading opponents of the Uribe Government have been singled out for investigation and the very real threat of assassination. Among these is Carlos Lozano (pictured), the editor of the Colombian Communist Party's authoritative weekly newspaper, La Voz.

Lozano is well known for his efforts to secure a negotiated settlement of the social crisis and armed conflict besetting Colombia. During the term of President Uribe, paramilitaries have been emboldened to describe Lozano - a free citizen and a member of a legal party - as a "military objective" and an "accomplice of the FARC". Manipulated "evidence" alleged to have been found on the computer equipment belonging to murdered FARC commander Raul Reyes and removed from Ecuadorian territory after an incursion and bombardment in March this year is said to contain numerous emails from Lozano. Lozano was deeply involved in trying to secure the humanitarian exchange of prisoners held on both sides of the conflict.

It has been estimated that 150 Communists have been murdered since President Uribe took office in 2002. Manuel Cepeda, an earlier editor of Voz, was murdered on August 9, 1994. Colombia remains in the top three most dangerous countries in the world for journalists and the South Australian State Committee of the Communist Party of Australia joins the millions of voices around the world and the oppressed in Colombia in saying to the Colombian Government - "Enough is enough!". Stop the attacks on the political opposition in Colombia. Direct the energies currently being devoted to attacking the representatives of the workers and peasants of Colombia to finding a peaceful solution to the social crisis in Colombia.

Victory for Peace Activists: Adelaide Arms Fair Cancelled.

2008-09-07T07:29:00.007+09:30

A report in today's Sunday Mail claims that the Asia Pacific Defence and Security Exhibition (APDSE) planned for Adelaide in November has been cancelled. The arms fair was due to start on November 11, Remembrance Day, and would have been in a feather in the cap of The State Government who are intent on positioning South Australia as the new 'head office' of the military industrial complex in the Southern Hemisphere.

According to the Sunday Mail report, the event has been cancelled "amid fears of violence by radical protest groups". If this is the case, then it can only be said that the cancellation of APDSE is a massive victory for the peace movement in Australia. However, Acting Premier and Treasurer, Kevin Foley, doesn't agree. He says that it should not be seen as such because "contacts with manufacturers have been made and will be followed up."

In claiming that "the cost of security" and "possible threats of violence" forced the Government to cancel the exhibition, Foley showed his true colours by levelling abuse at some of the protestors. ""These are feral, low-life people that want society to be in a state of near anarchy for their own perverse pleasure," he said.

Kevin Foley has a habit of putting down those with whom he does not agree. This latest outburst pegs him as an arrogant sore loser. The Rann Government is clearly angry that their showpiece military event for 2008 has been rejected by those who support peace and non-violence.

And the CPA certainly does not endorse or participate in violent protests of any nature. "We were confident that agreement to a non-violence statement from the majority of the parties meant that, by and large, the groups involved would be acting peacefully," said CPA (SA) State Secretary Bob Briton.

"Any cry from the Government about the potential for violent protests reveals their unbelievable hypocrisy. Is the development of an industry that manufactures and deals in deadly weapons not the epitome of violence and destruction?" he asked.

"We believe that the development of military industries is not the answer to the State's problems. Money invested in such adventures would be better spent on creating jobs and infrastructure that contribute to improvements in health, education and other essential services," he said.

"The SA Government and the military industrial complex need to know that the South Australian people will not idly stand by and watch them turn our State into a marketplace for war and destruction," he added.

New Leadership? What a load of Krudd!

2008-09-03T21:22:00.009+09:30

It's been almost a year since Kevin Rudd was elected, and apart from a grandiose display of tokenism to keep the Aboriginal community quiet – something Howard couldn't bring himself to do – it's been more of the same economic rationalist garbage from a Government that seems determined to outdo its predecessor on every count.

And speaking of Aboriginal Australia, rather than repeal the controversial legislation that led to the intervention into Aboriginal communities – possibly one of the policies that played into Labor's hands pre-election, Kevin Rudd's so-called Labor Government is going to extend it to include communities in low socio-economic suburbia, starting this month with a trial in the Perth suburb of Cannington. The trial will see welfare payments tied to school attendance. The bottom-line: don't go to school, don't expect to eat.

For years, John Howard's Government presided over an education funding model (the SES) which highly favoured the private or 'independent' sector. His 'for-profit' idealogues did all they could to justify the gross inequity in funding by publicly humiliating state run education and its workforce. Howard's government underfunded public education by $2.9 billion per annum, meddled with curriculum and forced his bigoted nationalism on schools by tying funding to the school flagpole and the singing of the national anthem at assemblies. Of course, all of this was met with much opposition from the Labor Party, who led it's constituents to believe that all would be remedied come November 24th last year

Howard and his losing government must wonder why they were ever disappointed at losing the election. They now have the luxury of sitting in opposition while their one-time opponents work their proverbial butts off to improve upon reactionary Liberal policies and to implement those which Howard and his mates ran out of time to pursue.

Rudd's agenda to play public schools off against each other by awarding grades for student and teacher performance is a case in point. See this article for an in depth analysis of Rudd and Gillard's love affair with the New York model. It seems they're the only two educated people in Australia who think emulating education success (or lack of it) in the United States, is a good idea.

The me-too-ism of this Government is, quite understandably, forcing many of its supporters to question why they didn't see the light a decade or two ago. Optimism is a good quality to have, foolishness is not. And it would be foolish to hope that Rudd and his Labor Government somehow or somewhere have something great in store for working people. It's time to take the gloves off, November is nearly a year ago and Rudd's honeymoon is over.

Teachers continue campaign for a fair go for public education...

2008-08-03T15:38:00.009+09:30

(Photo: Philip Griffin)

Fair Pay, Fair Funding, Fair Go for public education - that's the campaign slogan of the AEU's South Australian Branch. They are currently locked in battle with the State Government over their recent claim for a new enterprise agreement. The AEU has been in negotiations with the Department of Education and Children's Services (DECS) and the State Government since early in the year but seem no closer to an agreement that recognises the issues raised in the their Claim.

A major stumbling-block in reaching an agreement seems to be the Government's proposal for a Student Centred Resource Funding Model (SCRFM). If implemented, the model will significantly disadvantage around 47 percent of public schools, some of which will lose up to $250K in funding. Schools will also be forced to make staffing decisions on a term-by-term basis, exacerbating existing staffing problems for leaders in hard-to-staff locations and creating greater instability for contract employees.

Salaries are also an issue. A post on the AEU's blog says that the union is pushing for salary increases that achieve parity with the other States - a benchmark of around $75K for the top rank and file classification (Step 8). Despite what seems to be a more than fair salary claim, much of the media comment from opponents of the union's position - including government - has suggested that the union is being greedy and should accept the government offer of 3.25 percent over three years. The union has been quick to point out that inflation is running at around 4.6 percent and that accepting the Government Offer would effectively result in a pay cut for education workers.

One of the most outspoken critics of the AEU and it's current campaign for fair pay and conditions is Business SA CEO, Peter Vaughan. In a recent Advertiser article, Vaughan suggested that teachers need to "act the part" if they wanted to be treated like professionals. In his confused and contradictory diatribe, Vaughan also suggested that teachers should be subject to the same type of performance management practices that exist in the private sector: "Many occupations link performance and pay. If teaching remains focused on salary with no regard to the assessment of educational standards, it will continue to be regarded as a career that sits well below other more highly sought-after professions." Perhaps pay was your focus Peter but a brief look at the AEU's Claim for A New Agreement is all it takes to see that there is much more to this dispute than salary.

So who is this mischievous reactionary and what's his game? According to Business SA's website, Vaughan is an avid collector of wine and modern art and came to our State from Victoria where he was a secondary school teacher and one-time President of the Victorian Secondary Teachers’ Association. Fortunately for Victorian students, his career in education lasted a mere seven years. Clearly a teaching salary wasn't keeping the cellar full.

In his article, Vaughan also states that "teachers are doing themselves a grave disservice in their current pay dispute by demanding more pay ad more pupil-free days for planning and development". Vaughan uses the term "pay dispute" to twist the true nature of the union's campaign and then goes on to criticise the AEU for focussing on matters related to curriculum, i.e. planning and development. Planning and development - it's a rather shameful waste of time don't you think? Surely these greedy teachers should take a leaf out of the corporate book and spend more time on the phone to their stockbroker or perhaps bidding on a recently discovered Mondrian.

Vaughan also says he would like to see performance indicators put in place so teachers "strive for results in the classroom". Why not take it a step further Peter and re-introduce corporal punishment? Perhaps all parents with children in public schools should be issued with a cat o'nine tails so that the "under-performing" teacher can be adequately disciplined when a 'C' appears on their child's report. A = movie voucher, B = frown from Principal and 'C' equals 50 lashes!

What is really driving Peter Vaughan in his quest to undermine the teaching profession? Could it be his narrow focus on outcomes for business - he's suggested, for example, that students shouldn't be "socially engineered", rather teachers should be preparing them for the "job market". Or maybe it's just a classic case of sour grapes: he didn't cut it as a teacher so, like every greedy capitalist, he's treading on anyone he can to make a name (and some money) for himself.

One thing's for certain, Peter Vaughan would much rather see government money spent on tax cuts for business – á la the last State Budget – than on the provision of properly funded public education.

The Communist Party of Australia (SA) supports the AEU and their campaign for Fair Pay, Fair Funding and a Fair Go for public education We congratulate the AEU for standing up for the rights of staff and students in South Australia's public preschools, schools and TAFEs.

N.B Peter Vaughan is also a member of the WorkCover Board. A recent change to Government legislation has seen the levy payable to WorkCover by business reduced significantly, while entitlements to injured workers have been slashed.

SA Unions Secretary targeted over CPA address

2008-06-26T15:53:00.003+09:30

Knives are out for SA Unions Secretary Janet Giles. Unnamed Labor powerbrokers were quoted in The Adelaide Advertiser last week calling for her expulsion from the ALP for addressing a Communist Party of Australia fundraising dinner. Giles has headed a very vocal and effective campaign against the Rann government’s recently enacted slashing of WorkCover entitlements. Most commentators are convinced the moves against her are payback for the campaign and that the leading unionist has joined a "leper list" of critics of the Rann Government’s big business agenda.

"I represent at least 20 trade unions in this State who also represent over 100,000 union members and I know that there’s a huge amount of anger about the WorkCover legislation", Giles told ABC Radio on the morning the story broke.

"We would not have fought a campaign like this if we were allowed to sit down and calmly work out a way forward but, as a very early article in The Advertiser said, what a number of senior members of the Labor Party have said was ‘Well, the unions will just have to eat it, we’ll just go ahead anyway and unions will just shut up about it’.

"But we’re not going to shut up about workers’ rights, it’s what we actually stand for and our members were asking us to do something about it and so we did something about it."

The smear campaign against Janet Giles appears to have backfired. Letters to the editor and comments on The Advertiser’s site were overwhelmingly supportive of the SA Unions secretary. Readers were stunned that attending a Communist Party function and speaking on the subject of WorkCover could in any way be cause for disciplinary procedures. A group of retired union members and community activists issued a statement welcoming the involvement of the Communist Party in the WorkCover campaign and expressing full confidence in Janet Giles.

Industrial Relations Minister Michael Wright refused to hose down rumours of moves to discipline Giles in a TV interview last week, saying that the Labor Party has rules and it appears that they have been broken. If charges are laid and the issues are debated, the fallout could be very damaging for the Rann government. Members gunning for Giles will have to explain why the SA Unions Secretary should be booted out of the party for doing her job of defending the interests of the state’s workers.

At the CPA’s recent "Curry with Comrades" a YouTube was screened showing Mike Rann addressing a rally on the steps of Parliament House in 1995. He spoke passionately about near identical moves by the then Brown Liberal government to cut entitlements to injured workers and ultimately to reduce costs for big business. Thirteen years later, carrying that same message to the community could see you expelled from the ALP.

SA Government - giving disability a new meaning

2008-04-22T14:59:00.010+09:30

Family Services and Disability Minister Jay Weatherill was hard pressed to explain his government's latest cash-grab when questioned on ABC's Matt & Dave show this morning. In what can only be seen as yet another example of government revenue raising, the Minister's office has sent a letter to disabled South Australians asking them to cough up for wheelchairs, beds, mattresses, seat pads and a range of other equipment upon which they rely to carry out everyday activities that most of us take for granted.

According to the ABC 's program, disabled people will be required to pay up to $20 a month to use equipment that - up until now - they have had use of without charge. Why the sudden change? Well, it appears the government believes that the only way disabled people will respect the equipment they have is to make them pay a monthly surcharge. The Minister stated that there are many people who have in their possession items that they use only a few times a year, or not at all. He quoted the example of one person who apparently has five wheelchairs in their possession. These items could be distributed to others who are in need of this under-utilised equipment. In part, this seems like a reasonable solution to an apparent equipment shortage. However, asking already marginalised people with permanent disability to pay for the equipment that they are using on a regular basis beggars belief and is hardly a solution to the problem.

Would it not be easy for the government to ask for the return of the under-used items without adding a surcharge to the rest? Could the government not conduct an audit and collect any items that are surplus to an individual's requirements? Too simple a solution perhaps.

Financial hardship is just one of many challenges faced by those who live with a permanent disability. One caller to the ABC program stated that her son, who was already struggling to get by on a small pension, would be hard up to pay the $200 plus required from the government each year under the new scheme.

According to the Minister, there will be a chance for those who can prove 'hardship' to apply for a waiver - although there was no mention of this in the letter which arrived in letterboxes this morning. Waivers aside, it seems our State Government is prepared to target our most vulnerable in order to save a few pennies whilst at the same time it invests millions into creating the conditions for private business to make more profit.

Unlike some of the ALP's top brass, Jay Weatherill is well respected by many in the community; if carried out, this latest attack on South Australians may well put an end to that.

Take action to stop this greedy cash grab by our State Government. Click here to email the Minister and tell him to stop this outrageous scheme.

WorkCover - background to a betrayal

2008-03-27T08:09:00.002+10:30

Go to the box widget at the right of the page to view this very informative background piece about the current standoff between the State Government and the trade union movement in SA. It was written by someone well-placed to witness the shameful process of betrayal of the workers of the state by the government. The author was a Workers Compensation Advocate employed for the past 14 years by the CFMEU (Forestry and Furnishing Trades Division). He was actively involved in workers’ compensation since 1979 and from April 1987 to June 1994 was a WorkCover Board member.

Don't Rann-Sack WorkCover

2008-02-29T09:30:00.000+10:30

The State Labor Government has introduced legislation to cut the WorkCover entitlements of South Australian workers. The proposed cuts will increase the burden on families who are already struggling due to low wages and the high costs of housing and essential services.

CFMEU Secretary Martin O'Malley speaking to the ABC:

"It's hard enough today struggling with the sort of income they get and then to then be told they're going to be punished so the profits of the employers can go up," he said.

"What sort of bloody system are we running, what sort of person is Mike Rann to allow that to happen?"

Much has been made of WorkCover's 'unfunded liability' which is said to be close to $1 billion. However, this is not an amount that needs to be paid out at any particular point in time as it is only an estimate of the ongoing costs into the future. As it stands at the moment WorkCover is more than able to cover it's current costs. There has been little mention of the fact that WorkCover's assets are nearly double that of the so-called 'unfunded liability'.

Rather than acting to preserve the rights of working people, which is supposedly a core value of the ALP, Mike Rann and his cronies would prefer to cut entitlements to workers in order to appease their bean counters and the business community.

This position of the State Government will no doubt force workers to return to work before making a full recovery or force them to return to workplaces where conditions are unsafe. Clearly this is not desirable for the worker, the employer or the long-term performance of the WorkCover scheme.

The CPA condemns this attack on working people and invites you to sign our petition in defence of the rights of injured workers.

Click here to sign the petition

Adelaide’s Walled "defence" Precinct

2008-02-28T13:40:00.007+10:30

Residents of Port Adelaide are reeling at the number and scale of plans for their district being made way above their heads by governments and corporations. The Port Waterfront Redevelopment is starting to dominate the inner harbour; presenting a concrete wall of high-priced apartments to other inhabitants of the still mostly working class suburbs nearby. And now comes the news that an eight metre-high "acoustic barrier" is to be erected, removing about four kilometres of public waterfront access and fortifying a precinct for strategic waterfront "defence" (war) industries.

The Northern Lefevre Peninsula Draft Masterplan has been wheeled out at a number of consultation sessions. As is usual in these processes, interested groups and individuals are invited to comment or object to certain proposals. But as the Port Adelaide Branch of the National Trust of South Australia noted late last year, "although consultation has been fairly intense, the scope of that which is subject to consultation is very limited. Many critical issues and major elements have been deemed ‘non negotiable’ in this process and we wish to protest this as inadequate as a consultation process."

The letter was addressed to DefenceSA — a state government body that leads the government of South Australia’s defence industry efforts. It offers "focussed and responsive services to Defence and defence industry to drive the sector’s growth in South Australia and to support the delivery of key defence projects and facilities such as Techport Australia." [http://www.defencesa.com.au/]

Techport will be located behind the eight metre-high concrete barrier. It will be as high as the distinctive Stobie poles that carry electricity cables in the older parts of the city. According to the agency’s website, Techport will feature:

World-class common user shipbuilding infrastructure — including a wharf, runway, dry berth and Australia’s largest shiplift.

A 35+ hectare, fully integrated industrial precinct for suppliers.

An onsite Maritime Skills Centre - delivering trade and technical skills for a job-ready workforce; a purpose-built, state-of-the-art Air Warfare Destroyer Systems Centre.

Access to the national transport network including heavy/wide load roads, a rail spur and deep channel international port.

An optical fibre network link to major research, defence and education sites across Australia

With state and federal government sweeteners to industry, the precinct hopes to attract:

Civil or military shipbuilding

Ship repair and maintenance

Systems design and integration

Metal fabrication and module construction

Blast and paint

Warehousing and logistics

Precision manufacturing

Electronic component supply

"The combination of location, facilities and billion dollar contracts already in place make Techport Australia the prime destination for any business involved in naval and defence-related industries," the website continues. The state government has invested over $400 million so far on the facilities which will host the construction of the Royal Australian Navy’s Air Warfare Destroyers. The money would have been better spent on neglected schools and other crumbling infrastructure. The government is justifying the conversion of SA into an even bigger focus of military industries and activities with the promise of $12 billion worth of military contracts and more than 4,000 direct and indirect jobs.

The figures seem impressive at first sight but the results are by no means in the bag. Jobs in the hub will not make up for the devastating losses in local manufacturing industry in recent years. Mitsubishi is to stop vehicle production at the end of March with the direct loss of 930 jobs and several hundred more at component supplying companies.Each Techport job being anticipated will have cost $3 million worth of "investment" to get started without considering the state government’s outlays. There are many more economical and socially useful way to create jobs.

DefenceSA claims the unusually high fence was imposed on developers by the Environment Protection Agency, which has a reputation in the Port Adelaide area as the most toothless of tigers when it comes to the many environmental challenges facing residents. The National Trust was told that acoustic engineers — who supposedly endorsed the DefenceSA concrete wall — are under contract and would not be authorised to discuss their findings.

The loss of open space for recreation and habitat for local species inflicted by the Pelican Point power station and the Flinders Ports’ facility is to be compounded by the loss of a large chunk of coastline to war industries. Access to the river for fishing and to see the Port River dolphins are to make way for Techport. The Port Adelaide Sailing Club — relocated to make way for luxury portside units — will suffer from is proximity to the strategic industries hub.

Adelaide turns out to hear 'sorry'

2008-02-14T08:41:00.012+10:30

Thousands of Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people crowded into Elder Park in Adelaide yesterday to hear the Federal Government's long-overdue apology to the stolen generations.

For the Communist Party of Australia SA State Committee's response to the apology and Opposition Leader Brendan Nelson's appalling reply, go to the media release listed on the "widget" to the right of this post.

'Sorry' Event in Adelaide...

2008-02-09T22:47:00.000+10:30

Go to our widget on the right to download details of Reconciliation SA's big day at Elder Park on Wednesday the 13th - the day the nation apologises.

Mitsubishi Pulls the Pin on Adelaide Workers...

2008-02-06T19:06:00.000+10:30

After years of threatening to close their manufacturing operation in Adelaide, Mitsubishi has pulled the rug out from under the nearly 1000 workers, some of whom have given more than 40 years of their working lives to the Japanese owned company.

Go to our widget on the right to download the Party's statement on the closure.

21st CPA State Conference

2008-02-02T21:20:00.001+10:30

The CPA held it's 21st State Conference at the Semaphore Workers Club this afternoon. The Conference was well attended by members of the Party and also by guests at the after Conference event. Nominations to the State Committee were voted on resulting in the election of eight members, making the new committee the largest and most representative of all SA branches for some time.

The Conference also considered and accepted a range of political resolutions which can be viewed in detail by downloading the document in the box widget to your right.

It is customary for a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party to attend Party State Conferences and this year we were fortunate enough to host CC Member Rob Gowland. Rob's main contribution was a report on the International Meeting of Communist and Workers Parties, which, until this year, has been regularly hosted by the KKE (Communist Party of Greece) in Athens. This year the meeting was moved to Minsk, Belarus, one of a growing number of countries in the former Soviet Union which has reverted to a socialist economy.

Rob's report was supported by a visual presentation which will be available for download soon.

Other guest speakers included Martin O'Malley from the CFMEU, Jamie Newlyn from the MUA and local Aboriginal activist John Hartley who spoke about the upcoming National Convergence on Parliament House in Canberra to protest against the continuation of the intervention into Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory.

Thanks to all guests of the CPA for joining us in celebrating our 21st!

We're Sorry Brendan - you're the pits!

2008-01-28T22:25:00.000+10:30

Brendan Nelson made it clear today that reconciliation and the rights of Aboriginal Australians are of no concern to him whatsoever. In trying to attack Kevin Rudd on his ability to prioritise issues of national importance, Nelson showed the country why he and his Party are not fit to hold office. This is what he had to say:

"Whatever the attitude of Australians towards this generation, apologising for things that were done by earlier generations, you've really got to ask yourself whether this is a high priority for the Australian Parliament."

It seems that Nelson can't grasp the most basic of concepts, i.e that we are all living with the privileges of what our ancestors did to the traditional owners of this country.

Nelson's comments represent his class interests. Matters of significance to Aboriginal people, such as reconciliation, apologies for the stolen generation, self-determination and civil rights will never be of any concern to the bourgeoisie. Unfortunately the 11 year rein of John Howard as Prime Minister has shown that it is possible to ignore the needs of Australia's Aboriginal people and still get re-elected.

Kevin Rudd has said that he will apologise to the Aboriginal people. 'Sorry', although more than just a word in the context of Indigenous Australia, is only one small step in the right direction. It's extremely important that he not only apologises, but starts to do something about lifting Aboriginal people out of abject poverty.

It's 220 years since the British stole this land from the traditional owners and it's only fitting that Mr Nelson chose the 'Australia Day' weekend to remind us of the ignorance, racism and hatred that helped to create the greedy, selfish society that we all live in. Nice one Brendan, you're all (upper) class.

BAE Drops A Bomb On Human Rights

2008-01-21T20:44:00.000+10:30

You may have heard about Adelaide based Defence contractor BAE Systems and it's request for exemption from the Racial Discrimination Act. This outrageous request was granted in the Equal Opportunity commission today, giving BAE the right to refuse employment to applicants based on race, and to prevent current employees from working on some 'top secret' contracts. Workers from countries such as China, Iran, Cuba, Sudan, North Korea, Syria (and no doubt many others), will be denied the chance to work on lucrative U.S contracts despite holding Australian Citizenship.

As one might expect, BAE are seeking to take full advantage of this ruling by pursuing it's extension to the other Australian States.

True to form the Rann Labor Government, along with Attorney-General Michael Atkinson has welcomed the decision. It's clearly their position that the universal application of basic human rights shouldn't stand in the way of capitalist greed.

The Attorney-General made no apologies for supporting the ruling. "Billions of dollars in defence contracts for SA are now assured and I think more will come to SA now that this difficulty has been removed".

The CPA would like to congratulate our pro-business Labor Premier for placing South Australia in a position of subservience to the world's most dangerous imperialist power.

Citizens from one of the countries on the blacklist, Cuba, are about to go to the polls to elect new representatives to government. If those elected fail to represent their constituents as promised they can be quickly removed from their position at the will of the people. A similar system here would have seen Mike Rann packing his bags a long time ago.

When reflecting on this country's recent record on Human Rights, today's disgraceful decision in the Equal Opportunity Commission comes as little surprise. Here in South Australia the State Government has supported the building of illegal detention centres, it has aggressively pursued the construction of uranium mines on traditional lands (Arkaroola being the latest example), and it hasn't taken a single backward step in promoting S.A as the 'head office' of Australia's military industrial complex.

The question must be asked: Is this what Australian democracy delivers to its people?

Farewell to the Great Leader

2007-11-29T22:28:00.000+10:30

John Howard made an embarrassingly desperate plea in the last week of the election campaign:

"I'm focused on spending my waking hours and my energy over the next three days in saying … if you think that Howard hasn't done a bad job, if you think the economy's good and national security is being looked after but you're flirting with change just for the sake of change, remember that you can't have a changeless change of government. There's always a risk in changing government and Australia will not be the same if we elect a (different) government. It's not like a Christmas present you didn't want and you can take it back at the Boxing Day sale, it's not like that. It's much harder than that. And the country will change. Every country changes when it changes its government...blah, blah, blah"

Well John, as you now know, it was change we wanted. You know John, we wanted a 'fair go'. So thanks for the encouragement, but it wasn't required. Come Sunday morning the teflon-coated Kevin Rudd was laughing all the way to Kirribily (via church). Yes that's right, despite their political differences, John and Kev were kindred spirits the morning after the election as they paid homage to their maker. I don't suppose John was asking for forgiveness, or even saying sorry, but I bet Kev was praying for a miracle: maybe he could do it again in a few years time. He might have to delay it for a year though - Kevin 11, maybe, but Kevin 10 just doesn't have the same ring to it.

Maybe in three years time Rudd's government will have survived the impending U.S recession, the inevitable interest rate hikes, the disintegration of our manufacturing industry and the pain of far too many 'short and jocular' conversations with his environment minister Peter Garrett. Time will tell.

There was one Minister who was way too busy to make it to church on Sunday morning. The man responsible for driving the Howard Government's land grab in the NT, Indigenous Affairs Minister Mal Brough, was down at Flight Centre booking a one-way ticket out of Canberra. Brough's approach to problems in Indigenous communities epitomised the narrow, ignorant, short-sighted and reactionary approach of Howard's ultra-right government and he paid for it with his parliamentary seat.

It was almost too good to be true, and it got better later that day. After years as understudy to the PM, Peter Costello decided he'd add to our celebration by deserting the sunken ship, or so it seems. I have a bad feeling we'll be seeing him again, but for the time being we can celebrate the implosion of a political Party that probably saw itself as unbeatable twelve months ago. It just goes to show: there's only so much the workers will put up with before they start to fight back.

The WorkChoices legislation was clearly the backbreaker for the Liberal Party. They lost power through blatant greed and disrespect for the working people of Australia. It's a shame it took something so obviously anti-worker in it's make up to get the people to wake up, but at least they did.

Later on Sunday I was standing in a department store, stocking up on bling before the big financial crash - the one that Howard seems sure the ALP will preside over. I had to pinch myself, I asked my partner to pinch me, the perfume girl even had a go. I didn't care because it was real, it had finally happened. It took eleven long, painful, depressing years but the Howard rein had finally come to an end. Relief swept over me as I handed over my credit card, an action that too many Australian's have embraced during Howard's term in office. The cash register still went ding (or was it bling?).

Some people say the economy has got stronger over the last eleven years: interest rates are low, yes, but thanks to an artificially inflated real estate market most young people can't afford a deposit on a home. More people have large screen TV's and fancy cars, but credit card debt is at an all-time high. The digital revolution has swept the world, but it hasn't helped alleviate hunger, disease and poverty. "Perhaps things will get better under Labor" I heard someone say in the office today. It wouldn't be hard, but it's not all that likely.

The Rudd Labor Government will probably start out by honouring some of their pre-election promises - they've already ratified the Kyoto Agreement for instance. They will give the impression that they are somehow inherently different to the nationalist, reactionary regime that was John Howard’s government.

The ALP is essentially a right-wing political Party committed to capitalism and it's for this reason that our work has only just begun. We will need to continue the struggle for a better society and we will do it with the knowledge that the Australian people can be roused into action and that the enemy can be beaten.

Che Guevara Lives On

2007-10-27T22:49:00.001+09:30

The Australia Cuba Friendship Society, the Pablo Neruda Society and members of the FMLN celebrated the 40th anniversary of Che's death with a function at the Irish Club in Adelaide tonight. Around 100 guests enjoyed a great night of live music and speeches from Christian Quechupan of the Xeg- Xeg Development and Communication Coalition among the Mupache people of Chile and Rosalio Tinta from the National Coalition for the Defence of Water, Basic Services and Life of Bolivia.

Anti-Howard Art Exhibition at the Wheatsheaf

2007-09-25T23:36:00.000+09:30

Click this link to go to 'The Good Guys' blog, no that's not the electrical mob but none other than the progressive educators of the AEU in Adelaide.

Stop the Pulp Mill..

2007-07-18T00:36:00.000+09:30

Click here to load a cool video calling for the defeat of the proposed Gunns Pulp Mill north of Launceston in Tasmania.

Adelaide Protests Indigenous Intervention...

2007-07-15T07:49:00.001+09:30

About a hundred people braved the blustery weather in Adelaide last Saturday to attend a protest on the steps of Parliament against the Howard Government’s attack on the rights of remote Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory. The gathering was called at short notice by the Pablo Neruda Cultural Committee and the Adelaide Co-ordinating Committee of the FMLN in Adelaide. The representatives of the Chilean and El Salvadorian communities felt moved to call the protest because of experiences in their homelands of the oppression of Indigenous communities. Click here to read more.

Victory for SA Teachers and Schools...

2007-06-27T22:57:00.000+09:30

The Rann Labor Government today announced that it would scrap the proposed Work Cover levy of one per cent which was to be imposed on all preschools and primary schools in South Australia. The levy would have drained the combined budgets of our state schools of around $17 million in funds.

The AEU has proven, even in this extremely difficult industrial relations climate, that collective action involving the wider community can make an impact on government policy. The State Committee of the CPA extends it's congratulations on your victory in this hard fought campaign. Click here to visit the AEU's website where you can read more about this and other campaigns.

2007-06-27T01:50:00.001+09:30

This week's edition of the Guardian Podcast is now available to download or stream from our 'box' widget on the right of the page. You can also download it via our podcast page. To subscribe to our iTunes feed click here.
In this week's edition we discuss the situation in remote Aboriginal communities and the reactionary response from the Howard government. We also talk about the relationship between the ALP and the trade union movement and we pay tribute to Cuban revolutionary Vilma Espin Guillois.

Guardian Podcast #7

2007-06-24T00:43:00.000+09:30

In this week's Guardian Podcast we speak with South Australian Correspondent Bob Briton about the United States and Australia's complicity in the torturing of war prisoners under the US policy of 'extraordinary rendition'. Bob also gives us some background on the way the Australian government spends it's foreign aid in the Asia-Pacific region. Download or stream the podcast from our box widget on the right or you can subscribe via your preferred podcatcher by visiting our multimedia page.

Premier’s double game on mill

2007-06-21T21:45:00.000+09:30

The Tasmanian Greens last week accused the Premier Paul Lennon of playing a double game over the withdrawal of Gunns from the Resource Planning and Development Commission (RPDC) and the legislation of the alternative fast track approvals process. It has been confirmed that Gunns were told the Thursday before they pulled out that the information they had given the RPDC was deficient, constituting a critical non-compliance, and meaning that assessment could not proceed unless they presented further research. Click here to read more.

Subscribe to our Blog: It's Free!!

2007-06-07T00:07:00.002+09:30

If you would like to be updated regularly about additions to our blog you can subscribe for free by either filling out the online form on the right of the page for email updates or by clicking on the orange icon for RSS feed updates:

RedCast

2007-06-06T23:06:00.000+09:30

In this week's episode of the Guardian Podcast we preview articles on the ALP's backdown on the total scrapping of the 'Work Choices' legislation, the current investigations into the deaths of the five journalists known as the Balibo Five, who were murdered in East Timor in 1975 and we briefly discuss the controversy surrounding the shutting down of anti-Chavez TV station RCTV in Venezuela. You can listen to or download the podcast to the right of this post or subscribe to our feed via our podcast page.

Che T-Shirts for Sale

2007-06-05T23:03:00.000+09:30

Click here to go to our online store.

----  Sent using a Sony Ericsson mobile phone

2007-05-31T00:27:00.000+09:30

This week we discuss some issues around Sorry Day and the lack of improvements in Aboriginal health care during the rein of the Howard Government. We discuss the political advertisements and the use of taxpayers money to spend up big prior to elections and also on the subject of health care we discuss Cuba’s role in assisting the East Timorese over recent years.
You can stream or download the audio in the box widge to your right or subscribe for free to our feed via iTunes, Google, Yahoo and other newsreaders by going to our pod site.

Michael Parenti Lecture

2007-05-29T23:03:00.000+09:30

Michael Parenti is a well-known and highly respected political analyst and author from the United States. He's published around fifteen books on subjects such as globalisation, imperialism, class and democracy. Hold mouse pointer here to see a lecture he gave in Canada entitled "Terrorism, Globalization and Conspiracy". Click here to go the Michael Parenti Archive site.

About the CPA....

2007-05-28T23:32:00.000+09:30

Workers of the World Unite
Originally uploaded by greepo.

The members of the CPA work to eliminate unemployment, poverty, injustice, homelessness, racism and war. These problems arise from the domination of our society by huge profit-hungry private corporations. The work of Party members and the Party's policies are guided by a set of ideas which are called Marxism-Leninism. Click here to find out more.

Aunty V's Land

2007-05-27T08:16:00.000+09:30

The death of an Aboriginal Australian is more often than not premature when it is compared to the life expectancy of non-aboriginals in this country. The passing of Lartelare descendant Auntie Veronica Brodie is no exception, it was met with great sadness by the many people who knew her and has robbed her of the chance to see a result in her fight for land rights in Port Adelaide. Aunty Veronica, with support from local activists had been negotiating with the State Government's Land Management Council to have a cultural Centre established in the area in lieu of the rightful return of her great-grandmother's land , now the site of 'Newport Quays', a new residential development for the wealthy. While the likely establishment of a Cultural Centre or similar facility is still somewhat up in the air, Aunty Veronica and her comrades should to be recognised for the fantastic effort they have shown in this struggle so far. The West Adelaide Branch of the CPA would like to thank them for their hard work and wishes them the best of luck in achieving a positive outcome.

2007-05-27T07:50:00.000+09:30

This week's episode of The Guardian Podcast is now available to download or stream in our box widget on the right of the page. In this episode South Australian correspondent Bob Briton speaks to us about the Howard Government's extravagant military expenditure, the Wilderness Society's charges against the Federal Government and woodchipping giant Gunns and we also discuss the controversy surrounding the upcoming visit of the Dalai Lama. Click here to subscribe directly to our iTunes podcast feed.

2007-05-16T23:44:00.000+09:30

This week's episode of the Guardian Podcast is now available to download. Go to our box widget on the right hand side of the page to download or stream the audio. Alternatively you can access the podcast via the iTunes music store. See link in previous post. This week we preview articles on the 2007 Federal Budget, the sad passing of Port Adelaide Aboriginal Elder Aunty Veronica Brodie and the rise of racist policy in Estonia.

2007-05-11T00:37:00.000+09:30

Each week we will discuss some of the feature articles in the paper and keep you up to the minute on events and activities in South Australia and further abroad. You can download or stream the podcast in our box widget on the right. You can also subscribe to The Guardian Podcast in iTunes or visit our Podcast page here.

Watch May Day Video from Adelaide

2007-05-07T12:32:00.000+09:30

Hundreds of working people rallied in Adelaide on Saturday to celebrate International Workers Day. At this years rally there was a big emphasis on getting rid of the Howard Government and their so-called 'Work Choices' legislation. Hover mouse here and click play to watch the video.
(Photo courtesy of Avante Media Australia)

Tom Morello Union Song May Day 2007

2007-05-06T01:12:00.000+09:30

Hover mouse here to see the U.S singer perform on May Day.

2007-04-28T20:40:00.000+09:30

Check out our new podcast! South Australian correspondent Bob Briton talks about some of the articles in this weeks issue of The Guardian. Each week we will discuss some of the feature articles in the paper and keep you up to the minute on events and activities in South Australia and further abroad. You can download or stream the podcast in our box widget on the right. You can also subscribe to The Guardian Podcast in iTunes or visit our Podcast page here.

This week we discuss the recent 'Your Rights at Work' rallies, the privatisation of recycling organistion Revolve in Canberra, and the release on bail of anti-Cuban dissident and suspected terrorist Luis Posada Carriles. Running Time: 14'02. Size: 6.8MB

2007-04-04T10:27:00.000+09:30

Another 600 Jobs Chopped at GMH...

2007-03-07T00:26:00.000+10:30

Without warning and with no consultation, Holden dropped a bombshell on the workforce at its Elizabeth plant in Adelaide on Monday. Six hundred jobs are to be axed and workers are being given two weeks to decide whether to accept the redundancy packages being offered by the company.

“There are a lot of workers scratching their heads in regards to how they come to the figures of 600 full-time highly skilled workers,” AMWU State Secretary John Camillo said. The cuts are being imposed in spite of vehicle sales being up eight per cent on February last year. It is GM’s way of thanking its workforce for improved efficiency and higher productivity at the Elizabeth plant by saying fewer workers will be needed. The productivity gains achieved by the workers will be pocketed by the US-based transnational.

Management claims the discontinuation of superseded VZ-based models also dictates the slashing of the workforce. In their media statements, company spokespersons have not answered criticism that they have put local production at risk by focusing exclusively on the big car market and leaving it to imported vehicles to compete in the growing small and medium-sized vehicle market.

Federal Industry Minister Ian Macfarlane claims to be disappointed with Holden’s decision to savage its workforce. “I have a great deal of sympathy for the workers at Holden, those made redundant are facing an uncertain time, but the Commonwealth Government will work with Holden to ensure that the workers’ transition to new jobs is as untraumatic (sic) as possible,” he said.

The government’s sympathies do not extend far enough for it to reconsider the tariff cuts being planned for the car industry in 2010 and 2015. If the cuts are not rescheduled, grave fears are held for the future of car making in Australia. The flow-on effect on second and third-tier parts suppliers would compound the devastating effects expected in local employment.

AMWU national secretary Doug Cameron points out that more than 200 jobs have been lost from manufacturing industry every week since the Howard Government came to office. “The government’s got a hands-off approach to manufacturing. They are quite content to see Australia become a quarry, a farm and a tourist destination, said Mr Cameron.

The AMWU’s national agenda to save Australian manufacturing includes more investment in research and development so Australians do not have to compete with other countries on wages.

Free The Cuban Five...

2007-03-04T16:04:00.000+10:30

Click here to sign the global petition to free the five Cubans who have been wrongfully imprisoned in the United States for eight years.