Zico+Tamela,+report+on+visit+to+Australia


 * 31 - 03 - 2 005**


 * __Report on the Visit to Australia in February-March 2 005__**


 * __Introduction__:-**

The visit was made possible and facilitated by close comradely co-operation among a broad range of progressive forces in Australia. Even those that were not actually involved in the original stages actively and enthusiastically took part as the process unfolded. The Australian Peace Movement, particularly its Victorian arm, the Victoria Peace Network, and the Maritime Union of Australia should be given more credit for the tour. Various individuals such as Bill Deller and Andy Blunden, the leadership of the MUA, Sheila Suttner, to mention a few, were very instrumental in making the tour a success. Quite a lot of unions and political movements as will be shown below also made an invaluable contribution making the whole affair really ‘Australian’.

1.1 The Peace Movement together with the Maritime Union of Australia organised the speaking tour. The objective was to share experiences on anti-war/peace promotion activities in the era of imperialism-globalisation, especially against the background of imperialist aggression on Iraq. 1.2 Furthermore, cement the two meant to cement relations between SATAWU and the MUA and also open up new ones with other fellow transport unions. Naturally, this meant coming into close contact with various arms of the Australian federation, itself. 1.3 At another level, the tour was overtly political. This emanated from the nature of the invitation, itself. The Australian comrades wanted a political activist, specifically from the juniour ranks of the democratic and working class movements who is also active in the anti-war/peace movement! The idea behind this is already captured above. This meant two things:- 2.1 The issues addressed concerned the challenges facing the working at the present moment, internationally. There was specific focus on South Africa, especially the last 10-years of democracy, and Australia, particularly the era of the Liberal Party. Parallels were drawn on the effects of capitalism-globalisation-neo-liberalism on the working class and masses at large and the tasks of the working class, thereof. Alliances and alliance politics also featured prominently with comparisons being made between the Tri-Partite Alliance and that between the ALP and ACTU. There was very keen interest on the current debate within the SACP concerning independent electoral participation with all activists and organisations engaged fully agreeing that the SACP must stand independently on elections after 2 005 while remaining within the Alliance! 2.2 In all the briefings one made use of the Party Discussion Paper, **Class Struggles in the National Democratic Revolution: the Political Economy of Transition** and the Research Paper on the Land and Agrarian Reform, both published in the latest **//African Communist//**. 2.3 Among issues we need to deepen discussions on, with the Australian Left are:- This is a burning question in Australia, particularly with regard to the Aborigines. Immigration has added another dimension. Generally, Australia welcomes white immigrants, but not other ‘races’. Racism and xenophobia are very much part of Australian political, social, economic and cultural life, just like in South Africa. It is important for progressive and Left forces share experiences on fighting racism and xenophobia in both countries. The Communist Party of Australia (CPA) was at the fore-front of the struggles of the oppressed, Aborigines, for equality in every sphere of Australian life in early-mid 20th Century. This is similar to the role played by the Communist Party of South Africa (CPSA) - South African Communist Party (SACP) since then until now. Both Parties are also renowned for their active roles in the struggles of the oppressed for land in both countries. Another striking parallel is the bourgeois character of the land acquisition by the oppressed in both countries. However, it would seem that the Aborigines are far worse off the blacks in South Africa in relation to land just like on the National Question due to what are regarded as genocidal policies of successive Australian governments that have reduced the Aboriginal population almost to zero.
 * 1) The aims and objectives of the tour:-
 * Engagement with political parties and organisations.
 * Raising the level of engagement with trade unions to a political level.
 * 1) The content of the tour
 * The National Question
 * The Agrarian and Land Question

Perhaps, the situation of the Aborigines is much closer to that of the Khoi-San than the other Africans! Demands for the recognition of culture(s) and languages, for example, seem to have a much deeper meaning to the two than is the case with other Africans in this country; this is not to say unimportant. Progress made by the democratic government of Namibian with regard to the San needs to be looked at, as it might offer a better ‘model’ for the Aborigines than the situation of the San in South Africa - the latter is definitely lagging behind Namibia so far!

Last, on the National and the Agrarian and Land Questions the progressive forces and the Left in general and the Communist Parties in both countries need to work very close to one another. Ongoing struggles around various aspects of these fundamental questions provide the basis for theoretical and practical collaboration.

One did not meet any specific social movements. Instead, meetings were held with various sectors of the Peace Network in different States (Provinces in our case), e.g., Melbourne, Victoria and Western Australia. One spoke at meetings of:- - trade unions, including Councils of the Australian Confederation of Trade Unions(ACTU), in all the above-mentioned States. A major assault on the trade union movement is looming large. Comrades are saying the Liberal Party Government is preparing to pass anti-union legislation around June. Every meeting one had with unions underscored this point. In some cases, preparations were being for the inevitable battles ahead. One’ s reading of these labour reforms is that they are similar to those proposed by ‘our’ government around 2 000-1, or perhaps even worse. Solidarity action from COSATU-afilliates is very critical; //An Injury To One, Is An Injury To All!// - students at Latrobe university. This was a public address to students during the Orientation Week. One also interacted with members of a socialist youth organisation - youth wing of the Socialist Alliance - operating at Latrobe University. They were quite keen to develop relations with the YCL. This would help the YCL draw on the experiences of other socialist youth groups with a presence at educational institutions in looking the challenges facing students under capitalism and neo-liberalism, including approaches to students’ governance, world-wide. For example, one could immediately recognise the negative effects of the policies of the Liberal Party Government on the students and workers and the University on the one hand, and the differences in students’ governance among South African, Australian and British educational institutions, on the other hand. Furthermore, that youth organisation had a lot to say on the challenges facing China, Cuba and Vietnam, the imperialist invasion of Iraq, including the current situation, and, above all, the strategy and tactics of the socialist revolution //in general// and //as// //pertaining to the youth//. - church group on the outskirts of Melbourne. This is one of the core-constituents of the Victoria Peace Network. Its members are quite knowledgeable about South Africa’ s apartheid past having been part of the Anti-Apartheid Movement in that country. Amazingly, they were very keen on knowing what the SACP’ s analysis and perspectives are, on the past 10-years and the future. They thought it a positive step for the SACP to contest Elections in its own right! Above all, they committed themselves to continue working closely with the masses of this country, especially from a church and peace-activists’ angle. - leaders of the indigenous peoples, (panels). - left-wing activists - political parties, the Green Party, the Communist Party of Australia and the Labour Party. One also did interviews with the **Guardian**, the Newspaper of the Communist Party of Australia, the Newspaper of the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU), a community newspaper and a community radio station in Melbourne. In addition, one participated in talk-shows with some left-wing and indigenous activists on the same community radio station.
 * Social Movements

We definitely need to engage more on this question! South Africa’ s Constitution, recent legal developments regarding the marital status of lesbian and gay couples and positions held by organisations within the democratic and working class movements, on this question, need to shared with our comrades in Australia; we need to learn from their experience as well. There was not enough time to engage deeply on this question during the visit; only a brief exchange with two CPA leaders. The SACP would benefit a lot from the CPA by exchanging views on this question. The latter has made great strides in this sphere, particularly in the maritime and mining industries. Unfortunately, there was not enough time to delve into our some of our concerns on this question, particularly the relationship between these structure and those of the unions. However, it looks like the CPA is far beyond that, as it does not even come to the fore of discussions.
 * The Lesbian and Gay Movement
 * Party Structures in Workplaces

2.4 The Freemantle-Durban Twinning Project was also discussed with MUA. The latter still committed itself to the realisation of the Project. In fact, MUA was very glad on the very mentioning of the Projerct. It was agreed that there must be definite progress by the time the Maritime-Mining Conference takes place this May in Los Angeles. Generally, MUA is very keen to deepen relations with SATAWU. The Party and the democratic movement at large and the government have a major role to play in making this Project a success! 2.5 Other unions met and keen to work very closely with SATAWU are the LHMU as already mentioned above and the Rail, Tram and Bus Union (RTBU). SATAWU needs to make the necessary follow-ups.


 * __Conclusions__:-**

The view of both the organisers of the tour and the writer of these lines is that the effort was a great success! However, the ultimate measure of this success can only be the concrete realisation of the agreements reached. First, SATAWU must establish an appropriate structure to immediately take forward the Free-mantle-Durban Twinning Project. Second, the SACP should take steps towards closer relations with the CPA. Furthermore, and as part of working closer with the CPA, the SACP should engage the //Discussion Documents// of the CPA towards the latter’ s Conference scheduled for the second half of this year.


 * Yours for the Dictatorship of the Proletariat (//including SACP independently contesting Elections//)!**

Zico