Editorial:

Looking back over 2003

The outstanding event of 2003 was the international protest 
over the weekend of February 14-15 when 30 million people around 
the world took to the streets to demonstrate against war on Iraq. 
In Australia hundreds of thousands people marched in cities and 
towns, country towns in unprecedented numbers. It not only showed 
the strength of support for the demand "NO WAR", but also that 
Australians saw through the barrage of lies used by the US, 
British and Australian leaders to try to justify this war.

It has become more and more difficult for conservative leaders 
like John Howard to get away with their warmongering. Yet they 
still prepare further attacks on other countries that they like 
to brand as "rogue" or "failed" states to condition the public 
for the aggression, invasion and occupation that lie ahead. The 
peace organisations can continue to rely on a huge army of 
supporters, including many young people, to oppose the new wars 
being prepared in Asia and the Middle East, in particular.

While this was a high point, Australian Governments, supported by 
both Liberal and Labor parties, have passed legislation giving 
sweeping powers to the so-called "security" organisations and in 
the case of ASIO, have turned it into an unaccountable, political 
police. Sooner or later it will be used against democratic 
organisations such as left political parties, trade unions and 
individuals who speak out against the policies of right-wing 
governments.

Similar oppressive legislation has been enacted in a number of 
other countries that are pushing the "war on terrorism". To keep 
the "war on terrorism" going there has to be a stream of alleged 
"terrorist" suspects and actual "terrorist" actions. There is now 
a justified suspicion that some of the acts of terrorism have 
been deliberately carried out by the authorities themselves. The 
bombing of the UN headquarters and the Red Cross in Baghdad 
directly served the interests of the US occupiers.

The Australian Government is speeding up its war preparations by 
upgrading military weapons and by a huge increase in expenditure 
on the armed forces. It is clear from the statements of 
government leaders that these preparations have little to do with 
the defence of Australia. They are for military interventions 
against other countries anywhere in the world. Australian forces 
are being increasingly integrated at all levels with American 
forces.

Opposition to the take-over of Australia militarily, politically 
and economically has also developed during the course of the 
year. Calls for Australia's independence made by artists and 
entertainers, writers and some business sections indicate that 
Australian independence is a major issue and has widespread 
support in the community. The proposed Free Trade Agreement with 
the US, if concluded, will open the Australian economy up even 
more to foreign investors and speculators.

A statement by the Government's White Paper on Trade and Foreign 
Affairs said that the FTA would "put our economic relationship on 
a parallel footing with that of our political relationship". Our 
military relationship with the US is also heading rapidly in the 
same direction. Our sovereignty and independence are being traded 
away.

There is a direct link between the war drive and the attacks on 
the living standards and social welfare system on which millions 
of low income earners rely. The Government continues its attempts 
to emasculate Medicare and turn the health system into a two-
class system — one for the rich and the other for the poor. 
Despite massive opposition, the Howard Government introduced 
legislation that aimed to undermine bulk billing even further and 
to destroy the universality of Medicare that was central to its 
success. University education is being turned more and more into 
a preserve of the wealthy. Students are being saddled with huge 
debts by way of HECS or upfront fees which universities are now 
authorised to increase by as much as 25 percent. The unemployed, 
the sick, pensioners, families and others on benefits are all 
suffering from cutbacks and the Government's failure to provide 
adequate benefits.

War and peace, national independence, health care and public 
education are major issues for the Australian people during the 
coming 2004 election year. The developing people's movements for 
peace and independence, public health care and public education 
will grow strongly.