The Guardian 13 December, 2006
Season’s Greetings
With this last issue of The Guardian for 2006, we take the opportunity of conveying our Season’s Greetings and best wishes for the coming year to all Party members, supporters and Guardian readers.
It has been a busy year with many trade union and community activities. The campaign against the Howard Government’s IR legislation continued with several major actions and the formation of more trade union and community Your Rights at Work Committees. There have been campaigns relating to refugee issues and the continued inhumane imprisonment without trial of David Hicks and others at Guantánomo.
Concern about climate change has intensified together with the demand for more expenditure on renewable energy sources. Teachers have defended public education. Many hospitals and the health services generally are being starved of the necessary funds while $55 million per day is spent on the military. Not enough doctors and nurses are being trained. Nurses and doctors continue their protests at the excessive workloads being imposed on them and the inadequate services that put patients at risk.
The majority of Australians remain opposed to our involvement in the dirty war in Iraq and call for the withdrawal of Australian troops. Many are opposed to the Australian Government’s subservience to the Bush administration, the numerous US bases on Australian soil, particularly at Pine Gap, and the use of Australian territory as a bombing range and a place for military manoeuvres.
CPA members and many others have been involved in all these struggles. These and other issues will bring workers and communities onto the streets, in protest meetings and other forms of activity in the coming year. In 2007 these activities can provide the impetus for the defeat of the Howard Government.
To those who have been involved we say — continue the good work. To those not yet involved we say — join in, there is a place for everyone. To those who are thinking about joining our Party we say — Don’t hesitate, do it now!
Hannah Middleton CPA President
Peter Symon CPA General Secretary