Communist Party Of Australia (SA)

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.
javascript:void(0)

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.