The Guardian 21 May, 2008
Lockout a success in Fremantle
Vinnie Molina
Around 30 people gathered to watch the Australian documentary, The Lockout by Australian director Jason Van Genderen and produced by Greg Hall and Diane Michael. The film shows what the Australian working class has endured over the years since.
In 1929, 10,000 miners found themselves locked out of their Hunter Valley coalmines in a bitter industrial dispute over pay rates. What began as an undeclared war on industrial labour ended up overpowering a government, crippling an industry and besieging a community.
This event challenged the rights of every Australian, and redefined the political and industrial landscape of a country that witnessed an event forever remembered as "The Great Australian Lockout".
Guest speaker, Tony Cooke, former WA Trades and Labour Council Secretary, told how frustrated he felt about the history of lockouts in Australia, in particular their impact on the workers’ families. He also spoke about this experience in Fremantle Port ten years ago during the Patrick dispute.
Critical comments were made about the relationship between unions and the ALP.
After viewing the doco people made very good comments about the film and felt encouraged to purchase their own copies.
Thanks to the producer who sent some copies of the DVD a number of attendees took advantage of the opportunity to purchase their own copy of this great documentary.
This function was organised by the local branch of the Communist Party of Australia.