Close to a quarter of a million people took part in rallies and marches across Australia on June 30 and July1 against the Howard Government’s industrial relations agenda.
Seven hundred people braved rising flood waters in Lismore, southern NSW, to join more than 100,000 across the state. Although their city had been declared a disaster zone, people battled to several venues to hear about the campaign on a Sky Channel broadcast that linked 220 venues on Friday July 1.
Local organiser Michael Flinn said although people were subdued because of their circumstances, they were determined to play a role in the campaign.
The 200 who gathered at Lismore Workers’ Club made an impromptu march to the local National Party member’s office after the meeting, although the official rally had been abandoned because of the flood. Another rally is planned for July 19.
In Sydney, 20,000 people gathered at Town Hall to hear rank and file workers speak out in defence of rights to collective bargaining and access to unjustified dismissal. They filled the upper and lower halls and the overflow filled the square.
After the speeches they marched the historic "Hungry Mile" to Circular Quay.
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