SPIRIT
OF EUREKA
Standing
up for a Just, Democratic and Sovereign
Australia
Public
Meeting
FRIDAY,
1 DECEMBER 2006, 7.00PM
MUA
Offices,
46
Ireland Street, West
Melbourne
Kenneth Davidson Economics
Columnist, The Age, and
co-Editor
Dissent Magazine
Julian Burnside Human
Rights and Civil Liberties Barrister, SC
Joan Doyle State Secretary,
Communications and Postal
Workers Union
Fr. Bob Maguire, AM,
RFD
Parish Priest,
South
Melbourne, founder Open
Family
152 years
ago on 3rd
December, 1854, the
Ballarat gold miners rebelled against oppressive British colonial
rule. Miners on the
goldfields came from more than 20 different countries and many walks of
life, but all were united under the Eureka
flag in a common struggle for justice and democratic rights. These were the origins of the
Australian people’s proud fighting tradition and multiculturalism.
Australia’s
Indigenous people began that fight 60 years earlier, resisting the violent
occupation and colonisation of their
country.
The
tradition of the Eureka
uprising continues to inspire the Australian people’s struggles and
strivings for a just, democratic and sovereign
Australia
today. The
Eureka
flag is a potent symbol of the people’s
aspirations.
In today’s
Australia:
- Hard won woking
conditions and trade union rights are fiercely attacked by the
Howard Government on behalf of big business and overseas
multinationals
- People’s
democratic and civil rights are eroded under the pretext of fighting
terrorism
- Public health,
education, public utilities and social services are stripped bare and
privatised
- Public assets and
utilities are being sold off to overseas
corporations
- Local jobs are
being wiped out by US driven
globalisation
- Discrimination
and oppression of Indigenous Australians continues whilst their stolen
wages have never been paid back
- Racism is being
promoted to create fear and divide the
people
Australia
- Banana republic and the
51st state of the USA?
- Main
sectors of Australia’s economy
are dominated by US
multinationals and global
finance
- Industries in
manufacturing, shipping, transport, telecommunications and culture are
being wiped out
- Mining and
minerals industries are dominated by foreign
multinationals
- Australia’s foreign
policy is a mere echo of US policies around the
world
- Australia hosts
important US military
bases and acts as US Deputy Sheriff in the
region
- US culture
is imposed on the people, whilst the culture and history of
Australia’s working
people is increasingly
suppressed
- US
intervention in Australia’s
domestic economic and political affairs and foreign policies
- US plans
for Australia as a
quarry for the multinationals and dumping ground for toxic and
radioactive waste
Just like
the Eureka rebels and
other generations before us, we must also stand up for a just, democratic
and independent Australia.
Entertainment
and Refreshments
Organised by
the Spirit of Eureka
Committee. Information: MUA 93295477, or 0417
456 001