Podcast from Kavita Krishnan speaking in Perth

This podcast is from the speech by Kavita Krishnan at the Perth forum on the movement against sexual violence held on June 14.

Bust the budget! Protest the finance minister

Protest outside the Aviary in Murray St Mall where the Liberal finance minister will be hosting a $250-a-head lunch to boast about the budget to the top end of town:

Friday 20 June

11:30am, "The Aviary"
(Murray Street Mall, outside Underground station)

The proposed changes in the budget are a blow to higher education, they include funding cuts, increases to HECS and de-regulation of university fees.

In addition, this horror budget will attack pensioners, the unemployed, the poor, Indigenous people, people with disabilities, workers and many others, while the Liberal Party’s mates in big business get a tax cut.

While students and most ordinary people can't afford a private luncheon with the Minister, we can make our voices heard in Murray st Mall outside the Aviary. Join us with banners and placards to say no to a US-style system and demand money for health and education not warfare and corporations!

Displaced Voices - a film about land rights in WA

[This film by independent film makers in WA is about land rights and the proposed deal between the South West Aboriginal Land and Sea Council and the state government that would extinguish native title for nyoongar people in WA. Information below from the video makers.]

Throughout Aboriginal Australia, Native Title and the Land Rights movement has become an integral part in seeking justice and a platform which to create a path forward for our peoples.

An ancient people from ancient land, the Noongar people occupy the futile lands of the south west of Western Australia.

Since 1992 Noongar people have lodged claims, in the High Court, 22 years on South West Aboriginal Land & Sea Council continues to go through a litigation process with Australian Government. In recent times, SWALSC actively working concurrently with State Government on out of court settlement, called, Alternative Settlement.

This project has uncovered some concerning information particularly in the flaws in the Alternative Settlement and Noongar outcry and backlash on this. We highlight relevant information from the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous, Australian Constitution, Treaty, Indigenous Land Use Agreements, including the proposed Recognition Bill.

This is an independent voice, against the mechanism of both SWALSC and Australian Government in regards to Noongar voice, self- determination and governance.

This is a Cherishu film, the Collaboration between Cherishu and Nyoongar Enterprises and supported by Hotham River Nyoongar Aboriginal Corporation.

WA government continues desecration of Nyungah community homes

"At the end of the day, we want that land returned to us," Bella Bropho of the Swan Valley Nyungah Community told Green Left Weekly.

She was referring to the Lockridge camp site which was home to the community until it was closed by the state government in 2003.

Despite the closure, the community has maintained a continuous connection with the site meeting there weekly to this day.

At 5pm on June 10, government contractors moved in to remove fences and "desecrate" vegetation that was hand planted by community members.

"Our ancestor's graves are now open to desecration" said Bropho in response.

These are the latest moves by the government against the community after the March 19 bulldozing of houses and other buildings at the site.

The Gallop government used the pretext of allegations of sexual abuse at the community to close the community in 2003. This resulted in homelessness for a number of members of the Swan Valley Nyungah Community that persists in some cases to today.

Bropho claims a direct familial connection to the site going back to the 1700s. She also told Green Left that a number of her family members have lost lives due to homelessness since to the 2003 closure.

Notwithstanding more than a decade of campaigning to regain access to their community homes, the March 19 destruction and then further moves on June 10 were carried out without any consultation with the community.

Bropho contends that the Barnett government is acting in violation of the Aboriginal Heritage Act.

[This article by Alex Bainbridge is from Green Left Weekly #2013. Photos by Zeb Parkes from an April 2 protest against the demolition of homes at the Lockridge community.]

Politics in the Club: How can we stop Abbott's killer budget - Wed 18 June

Politics in the Club - all welcome

Abbott's killer budget
How can we stop it?


Speakers:
Richard Hamilton (President elect, Notre Dame NTEU)
Angela Hartwig (long time women’s rights activist )
Alex Bainbridge (Convenor, Socialist Alliance)

6:30pm, Wed 18 June 

Fremantle Workers Club, 9 Henry St

Sponsored by: Green Left Weekly

For more info: fremantle@greenleft.org.au or 0415 922 740

Attend on FaceBook:
www.facebook.com/events/512068062248321

World Refugee Week: Fremantle Fiesta (Sun 15th) and Northam Roadtrip (Sat 21st)

Two events important events are being organised for refugee rights to mark World Refugee Week in WA.

Fremantle Welcome Fiesta: Sun 15 June

The Welcome Fiesta will run from 11:30am to 3pm on Sunday 15 June at the Fremantle Esplanade.

It is organised under the banner of "No crime to seek asylum" and will include: speakers and a walk; arts and crafts; fair trade stalls; children's activities; and global food.

The event is sponsored by the City of Fremantle, Fremantle Refugee Rights Action Network, the Anglican Church, Socialist Alliance, Uniting Church, Friends of Palestine, Oxfam, The Greens, Labor for Refugees, the Catholic Justice Ecology and Development Office and CARAD.

Roadtrip for Refugees: Sat 21 June

The Roadtrip for Refugees will leave East Perth train station at 2pm on Saturday 21 June and go to the Yongah Hill detention centre near Northam. The event has been organised by the Refugee Rights Action Network.

Buses will be provided for a nominal fee. Please book via this link.

Join us on a roadtrip to see one of the most high security institutions that Australia is using to detain asylum seekers. We will be sharing the stories of refugees detained inside Yongah Hill Detention Centre and from long term refugee rights activists. This event will end with a candlelight vigil organised in partnership with Amnesty International's WA branch.

Roadtrip for Refugees: Sat 21 June

Departs: 2pm Sat 21 June, East Perth station

The Roadtrip for Refugees will leave East Perth train station at 2pm on Saturday 21 June and go to the Yongah Hill detention centre near Northam. The event has been organised by the Refugee Rights Action Network.

Buses will be provided for a nominal fee. Please book via this link.

Join us on a roadtrip to see one of the most high security institutions that Australia is using to detain asylum seekers. We will be sharing the stories of refugees detained inside Yongah Hill Detention Centre and from long term refugee rights activists. This event will end with a candlelight vigil organised in partnership with Amnesty International's WA branch.

Why the Greens are wrong to argue against blocking supply

The Greens have consistently argued since the budget was presented against blocking supply in the senate. This means that the Greens are planning to vote for some of the important aspects of Abbott and Hockey's budget (while blocking others).

It is true that blocking supply would result in significant social upheaval but the Greens' arguments against doing so are disingenuous:

* "Blocking supply would not necessarily lead to a new election"

That's true, but it is hard to imagine any other outcome (if you make the fair assumption that the Abbott government wouldn't respond to a senate decision to block supply by seriously amending the budget to make it palatable).

* "The most reliable and most rapid way to force a fresh election on the Abbott Government is by a double dissolution election"

Not true. It is a very unreliable way to get a new election. It certainly wouldn't "force" one. In fact, no matter how many double dissolution triggers there are, in the current circumstances you'd have to say that a double dissolution is extremely unlikely! It most certainly would not be "rapid".

* "The Greens are ready to block every cruel measure in the Abbott Budget."

Not true. Lots of "cruel measures" - such as funding cuts to the ABC and CSIRO and many others - are incorporated into the appropriation bills. If the Greens vote for the appropriation bills, they are voting *for* those things!

Socialist Alliance: Why we should block the budget

The Spirit of '45

Perth screening of Ken Loach's inspiring new documentary:

The Spirit of '45

Ken Loach's most recent documentary explores the establishment of the Welfare State in post-War Britain. Archival footage and personal testimonies recall the immense benefit gained by working people from publicly owned transport, energy, mining and other industries. The National Health Service was also established providing free health care for all.

This inspiring documentary provides important lessons for activists today as we fight for a better future than Liberal and Labor governments are prepared to allow.

Fri 20 June
6pm cheap meal, 6:30pm film

Perth Activist Centre
15 / 5 Aberdeen St, Perth (next to McIver station)

Ph Kamala 0417 319 662, Chris 0415 922 740.

Attend on FaceBook:
www.facebook.com/events/794953790529261

Premiere screening of "powerful" new film about land rights in WA

Displaced Voices

Land Rights in the South West of WA

A Cherishu film
in collaboraton with Nyoongar Enterprises

"SWALSC is not upholding the Lore and they should be"

"Powerful"

"Content rich"

"The 'other' side of the story"

Premiere screening:

Thurs 5 June

6-8pm, Perth Activist Centre
15/5 Aberdeen St, Perth (next to McIver station)

Kavita Krishnan: The movement against sexual violence - Sat 14 June

Public forum - all welcome

The movement against sexual violence in India

Guest speaker: Kavita Krishnan

Kavita Krishnan is joint secretary of the All India Progressive Women’s Association. Krishnan has become an international spokesperson for the movement against sexual violence that followed the gang rape of a student in Delhi. The movement demanded a woman’s right to live without fear of rape and free from the patriarchal control of family and community. Krishnan is also a central leader of the Communist Party of India (Marxist-Leninist) and editor of Liberation, the party’s central newspaper.

3pm Sat 14 June

Uniting Church Hall, 97 William St, Perth City

This forum is sponsored by Reclaim the Night (Fremantle) and Reclaim the Night (Perth).

Attend on FaceBook:
www.facebook.com/events/486643398135820

Kavita Krishnan is speaking as part of a tour by Socialist Alliance (including the Sydney national conference). If your organisation would like to sponsor this meeting, please contact Kamala (0417 319 662) or Alex (0413 976 638). www.Socialist-Alliance.org