Sunday, August 19, 2007

WA's Two-Tier Society


Many WA working class people are suffering under a “two-tier” society despite the state’s booming economy, Socialist candidate for Pearce, Annolies Truman told the WA Socialist Alliance state conference on August 11.

Quoting research from the WA Council of Social Service she said that rent had skyrocketed in the last year. “In 2003 4.8% of Perth rental accommodation was vacant, meaning you could get a house at a reasonable rent,” she said. “But not today. Now only 0.8% of rental accommodation is vacant.” Between June last year and June this year the average rent for a three-bedroom home in Mount Hawthorn went from $260 per week to $600!

“That’s an increase of $340!” she said. “It is the same all over the city. Even in Midland rents for three bedroom houses have gone up by $70 in the last year.”

She detailed the basic food items have also gone up in the last year: Frozen chicken has gone up 14% in the last year. White bread has gone up 15%, milk by 6%, eggs 22 %, even baked beans have gone up 4%. “If you can’t afford to eat you won’t need to go to the toilet,” she said. “Just as well, because toilet paper has gone up by 26%!”

Fuel Watch figures from the WA government show that the cost of keeping a car on the road continues to rise, she told the conference.

“Food, housing and transport are the three major cost items for medium to low-income families,” she said. “But how can they survive if they are pushed out to the urban fringe like Armadale, where rents have only gone up by $28 in the last year or Rockingham, where they went up by $57.” Because of this women and children make up the majority of homeless people in this city, she reported.

“That’s what I mean by a two-tier society. People living the fly in/fly out, highly paid lifestyle are living right next door to people who are suffering terribly.” “Socialist Alliance knows about these things because our members are people on the receiving end of all this.”

Thursday, August 16, 2007

Socialist Alliance WA State Conference Draws Activists


Socialist campaigners, gathered at the Maritime Union of Australia WA office, nominated senate candidates for the coming elections and endorsed activist movements at the WA Socialist Alliance state conference on August 11.

Close to 50 people attended, representing a range of activists, campaigns and branches.

A plenary session on strategies for combating WorkChoices heard CFMEU State Assistant Secretary Joe McDonald, AMWU State President Steve McCartney, MUA State Secretary Chris Cain and SA National Industrial Co-ordinator, Sue Bolton.

The Indigenous Rights workshop, attended by 15 people and addressed by Noongar academic Professor Ted Wilkes, discussed the need for an Indigenous-led campaign to stop the attacks by the Howard government. Members of West Australians for Racial Equality, WA Deaths in Custody Watch Committee and Women in Black also contributed.

Justice for migrant workers was the topic of the 457 Visa workshop, addressed by AMWU organiser, Joel Asphar, and Migrante activist Annibeth Desierto.

In the Climate Change workshop, Tim Hemsley from the Australian StudentsÆ Environmental Network accused the capitalist system of causing the current crisis. Australia û Cuba Friendship Society and SA member, Nancy Herrera, outlined some of the achievements of socialist and sustainable Cuba. Annolies Truman, SAÆs candidate for Pearce, showcased the Socialist Alliance's new Climate Change Charter.

The final session highlighted the need for a mass socialist party in Australia for upholding workersÆ rights. This session pre-selected Trent Hawkins and Julie Gray as Senate candidates in the up-coming federal election.

Sunday, August 12, 2007

Annolies Truman for the seat of Pearce.


Annolies Truman
PEARCE
  • Read more about Annolies Truman and the Socialist Alliance campaign for the seat of Pearce. Click on the "Annolies Truman" label at left.
  • Contact the campaign by email.
  • Phone the election campaign organiser on 9299 6453







How you can help the Annolies' campaign in Pearce
  • Volunteer to help out.
  • Join in the discussions on the Socialist Alliance campaign forums.
  • Attend one of our local campaign events. Check this site for calendar details.

Red Cinema Presents: Lumumba


7 Sep 2007 - 7:00pm

Raoul Peck's award-winning epic dramatises the rise and fall of legendary African leader Patrice Lumumba, the first Prime Minister of the newly independent Congo. Lumumba lasted just months in office before being brutally assassinated ... Cheap meal available from 6.30pm. Resistance Centre, 15/5 Aberdeen St, East Perth (near McIver Train Station). $10/$7. A fundraiser for Green Left Weekly. Ph 08 9218 9608.

Tuesday, August 7, 2007

Film Screening: Unjust Genes


Back by popular demand!

Who can own life? Who can control food? Who benefits from GMO foods? Who wants it? A screening of this film made by famous Australian progressive priest Father Brian Gore, Unjust Genes, reveals the dangers in the gene transfer process; the clandestine moves by big companies to misuse patent laws to control the food industry and the danger to bio-diversity.

Time: Sun Aug 19 at 6:30 pm.
Speaker: Janet Grogan, Say No to GMO.
Venue: Soul Tree organic café, Shop 6, 3 - 5 Railway Pde, Glen Forrest.
Organised by Perth Hills Socialist Alliance. Entry by donation. Ph 9299 6453.

Monday, August 6, 2007

A new vision for Australia


.

Perth Socialist Alliance


Perth Branch: 9218 9608
perth@socialist-alliance.org

For local branch updates click on the "Perth" label on the left.

Fremantle Socialist Alliance


Fremantle Branch: Angela 0408 321 327 or Sam 0412 751 508
fremantle@socialist-alliance.org

For local branch updates, click on the "Fremantle" label on the left.

Perth Hills


The Perth Hills branch of the Socialist Alliance has merged into the Perth branch. Contact us here.

Saturday, August 4, 2007

Contact Socialist Alliance


Email

wacontact@socialist-alliance.org

Web:
National website: www.socialist-alliance.org
Local site: www.socialist-alliance.org/perth

Perth Activist Centre

Street Location:
15 / 5 Aberdeen Street, Perth
(next to McIver station)

Postal Address:
PO Box 204, Northbridge WA 6865

Phone:
Ph 9218 9608 or 0413 976 638

Map to Perth Activist Centre:

View Larger Map

Fremantle Activist Centre

Street Location:
5 / 195 High Street, Fremantle

Postal Address:
PO Box 1379, Fremantle WA 6959

Phone:
Ph 0412 751 508

Map to Fremantle Activist Centre:

View Larger Map