December 6-7, 2008, Geelong Trades Hall, Geelong, Victoria. Saturday, December 6
The conference began at 3.50pm.
Chairs of sessions were as laid out in the draft agenda, except where indicated otherwise
That Dick Nichols chair the procedures session.
Motion carried unanimously
That the National Conference adopt the following standing orders for the conduct of this conference:
Motion carried unanimously
Speaker: Alex Bainbridge (Sydney Central)
Chair and session presenter: Susan Price (Sydney East)
Guest Speaker: Noel Washington (Senior vice-president, Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union
Noel Washington’s speech was followed by questions and discussion
Policies for adoption
Moved: Margarita Windisch (Melbourne West) Seconded: Tim Gooden (Geelong)
Conference notes the important role that Socialist Alliance trade unionists have played in building the campaign against the Australian Building and Construction Commission, in particular the role of Geelong Trades Hall secretary Tim Gooden, who initiated the “No Cooperation with the ABCC sign-on statement” and the first building worker demonstrations over the charges laid against CFMEU organiser Noel Washington.
The surprise withdrawal of charges by the Commonwealth Department of Public Prosecution against Noel Washington the day after the introduction into parliament of the Rudd Government’s Fair Work Bill shows that the Rudd government is sensitive on the issue of labour rights and that determined campaigning can bring gains for workers and their unions.
The success of the spirited December 2 protest rallies against the ABCC around the country showed that the most organised and conscious parts of the working class movement are determined to win back rights at work lost under the Howard government.
Conference recognises that the campaign to abolish the ABCC is the spearhead campaign in the broader fight to properly restore workers rights. If it is won, the battle to neutralise the anti-union parts of the Fair Work Bill will be much easier.
Conference resolves that the Socialist Alliance will continue to give full support to the building union-led campaign against the ABCC. Socialist Alliance unionists and trade union committees will continue to urge that non-cooperation with the ABCC as courageously practised by Noel Washington become the general approach and a central part of campaign.
Conference recognises that the campaign will have to be escalated to achieve its goal of ABCC abolition, and in this perspective advocates ongoing industrial action and protests, including demonstrations against ALP MPs who support or have yet to come out against the ABCC (like the October protest against Corio MHR Richard Marles and the Darwin December 2 building union protest outside the office of Solomon MHR Damian Hale).
Conference also urges Socialist Alliance trade unionists to propose in their unions and in union peak bodies the idea that May Day 2009 be a National Day of Protest against the ABCC and calls for industrial action whenever anyone is convicted under Building and Construction Industry Improvement Act laws.
Amendment 1 Moved: Margarita Windisch (Melbourne West) Seconded: Paul Benedek (Brisbane)
As shown in bold text in second last paragraph of the resolution above
Amendment 1 accepted by mover
Amendment 2 Moved: Kiraz Janicke (Sydney West) Seconded: Tim Gooden (Geelong)
As shown in bold text as addendum to the last paragraph of the resolution above
Amendment 2 accepted by mover
Motion as amended carried unanimously
Moved: Dick Nichols (National Executive) Seconded: Liam Mitchell (Blue Mountains)
In the light of developments in the working class and trade union movements since the defeat of the Howard government, in particular the tabling by industrial relations minister Julia Gillard of the Fair Work Bill, the dropping of charges against CFMEU official Noel Washington and the ongoing campaign against the Australian Building and Construction Commission, Conference asks the incoming National Executive and the National Trade Union Committee to produce a new edition of the workers´ rights charter, and to give consideration to having it printed in pamphlet format instead of as a broadsheet.
Motion carried unanimously
Moved: Tim Doughney (Melbourne West) Seconded: Tim Gooden (Geelong)
Conference condemns the vicious attacks by the ALP and the mass media on Electrical Trades Union Southern Branch secretary Dean Mighell. The ALP’s smear campaign is designed to discredit a union secretary who has been prepared to criticise the ALP in public and back independent and progressive candidates in federal, state or local council elections.
Mighell has also been threatened by sections of the ALP machine that they are prepared to spend $500.000 to get rid of him at the 2010 ETU elections.
Conference reaffirms that the Socialist Alliance supports all unions and their leaderships who are prepared to put their members’ interests over and above the interests of the ALP and big business.
Motion carried unanimously
Moved: Sam Wainwright (Fremantle) Seconded: Tim Gooden (Geelong)
This Sixth National Conference of the Socialist Alliance:
Amendment 1 (Moved: Graham Matthews (Sydney West) Seconded: Dick Nichols (National Executive)
Deletion as shown in strikethrough in resolution above
Amendment 1 accepted by mover
Motion as amended carried unanimously
Moved: Liam Mitchell (Blue Mountains branch) Seconded: Susan Price (Sydney East)
The Socialist Alliance Conference notes that the Rees Labor government in NSW has continued along the path of privatising the electricity sector in that state, even after the previous leadership was forced out due to mass opposition to the original plan.
Former premier Morris Iemma and treasurer Michael Costa had proposed a complete selloff, which was defeated by opposition from the union movement and local communities and involved activists from a wide range of political groups in its organising. While 85% of the people opposed the plan, Costa and Iemma sought to push it through parliament without concessions and using an absence of democratic control of Labor policy by the party.
The pressure from the community and the unions was so great that several Labor MPs in both houses would have crossed the floor and ensured its defeat.
The conference notes that the plan put forward by Rees is nothing less than an attempt to privatise the whole sector, despite it being dressed up as only partial privatisation. In this regard, it is not a concession to the movement that arose in opposition to the original plan. Rather it is an attempt to bring in the original plan, with only a few small modifications, without having to be taken to a parliamentary vote.
The conference notes that recent comments by the Secretary of the Treasury have exposed the sell-off of wholesale distribution rights as being aimed to give private corporations direct control in the operation of public utilities – control of everything from wholesale prices to energy sources to industrial relations.
This conference agrees that the privatisation of electricity will do three things:
Accordingly, the conference decides to prioritise the campaign in New South Wales against the sell-off of the electricity sector by the Rees Labor government, building a campaign that involves unions, environment groups, political parties and groups and the local communities.
That this campaign must take up issues of public control and ownership versus private profit; workers’ rights; and the phasing out of coal and moving towards an electricity system based on renewable energy.
Amendment 1 Moved: Liam Mitchell (Blue Mountains) Seconded: Susan Price (Sydney East)
Insert text shown in bold
Amendment 1 accepted by mover
Motion as amended carried unanimously
Moved: Jody Betzien (Melbourne North) Seconded: Wayne Klempton (Melbourne North)
The Socialist Alliance stands in opposition to the federal Labor government’s seasonal worker scheme in the horticulture industry. Under the current trial, up to 2500 visas will be available over three years for workers from Kiribati, Tonga, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea to work in Australia for up to seven out of any 12 months.
The program follows in the footsteps of the massive expansion of the 457 visa program, which has become notorious for rip-offs and abuse of migrant workers. It will further entrench a system that affords temporary migrant workers fewer rights than permanent resident workers. The right to remain in Australia to work is directly linked to narrowly defined work rights (either sponsorship with a single employer or group of employers in a specific occupational category). Temporary migrant workers do not have the right to tell the boss to get stuffed and find another job. To do so means being deported. It is for this reason that temporary migrant workers are highly vulnerable and employers are able to pay lower wages and conditions than are required to attract workers with full residency rights to the position.
Employers have claimed a labour shortage to justify the program. While an absolute labour shortage does not exist there is a shortage of workers prepared to work in low-paid casualised jobs in rural areas, without access to transport and services including affordable accommodation.
If a genuine generalised labour shortage exists, an increase in permanent migration would solve the shortage. However, the reality is that migrant workers with full work rights would seek the best wages and conditions available in the labour market. To attract workers, the agricultural industry employers would need to pay substantially more, facilitate continuity of work and provide access to facilities such as accommodation.
The Australian Council of Trade Unions and Oxfam Australia have expressed qualified support for the pilot claiming benefits for poor Pacific Island nations through funds sent home by the migrant workers to their families. However there is strong evidence that permanent migrants are equally likely to send money to their families at home to provide some immediate poverty relief. Support for the pilot program based on arguments about Pacific Island development will allow big business to get away with establishing a program that will result in more super-exploited migrant workers in Australia, while failing to address to the real causes of poverty in the Pacific.
The Socialist Alliance stands for full citizenship, democractic and work rights for all migrant workers. We stand for a large scale expansion of permanent migration programs including from poor pacific island nations in the region. Temporary migration schemes where workers have diminished rights will result in the super-exploitation of migrant workers and the undermining of wages and conditions for all workers.
The Socialist Alliance will produce a double-A4 style leaflet summarising its positions on 457 visas and seasonal worker schemes, available for download and distribution.
Amendment 1 Moved: Sam Wainwright (Fremantle) Seconded: Dick Nichols (National Coordinator)
Insert text shown in bold in resolution above
Amendment 1 accepted by mover
Amendment 2 Moved: Rachel Evans (Sydney West) Seconded: Various
Add final paragraph:
The Socialist Alliance supports refugee rights and has an open border policy.
Amendment 2 rejected by mover
Amendment 2 lost with 1 vote in favour
Motion as amended carried unanimously
Moved: Vivienne Messimeris (Sydney West) Seconded: Bronwyn Jennings (Geelong)
Conference condemns the agreement made between the states and the federal government of the introduction of league tables in schools in return for an increase in funding for disadvantaged schools and an increase in the power of principals to hire and fire (announced at the COAG meeting of November 29).
This is the next step in the move toward the introduction of fixed term contracts and performance-based pay for teachers. The actions of both the Federal and State ALP Governments demonstrate that they are just as committed to the same neo-liberal policies of devolution of school staffing as was the previous Howard-Liberal Government.
This kind of reporting of performance of public schools takes no consideration of the context of schools, such as their socio-economic status and other factors. Far from representing the increased accountability and transparency its advocates maintain, league tables deepen and entrench disadvantage, creating second and third class schools out of disadvantaged ones. Conference affirms that the Alliance must fight against this its introduction.
Conference also supports the stance of the NSW Socialist Alliance teacher members in leading the struggle against the NSW government’s miserable pay offer of 2.5% with trade-offs and supports the initiatives of the Activist Teachers Network, which is a rank and file network of NSWTF activists who are campaigning to organise more militant, grassroots mass actions as a winning strategy for the union.
The Socialist Alliance reaffirms its fundamental opposition to the public funding of private schools. We call on unions across the country to become involved in a campaign to call a massive rally in defence of public education at Federal Parliament House during Education Week 2009.
Motion carried unanimously
Guest Speaker: Nelson Dávila (Chargé d’affaires, Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela)
Chair: Kiraz Janicke (Australia-Venezuela Solidarity Network)
Policy for adoption
Moved: Stuart Munckton, (Sydney Central) Seconded: Michael McDonald (Brisbane Central)
The democratically elected government of Bolivian President Evo Morales, that nation’s first ever president to come from the ranks of the impoverished indigenous majority, is leading a process of change that aims to overcome 500 years of indigenous oppression and reverse two decades of a brutal neo-liberalism that has left Bolivia the poorest country in South America.
The Morales government has overseen a key popular demand for a constituent assembly for a new constitution based on justice and inclusion for the indigenous people. It has nationalized the country’s gas reserves and other industries and begun redistributing the wealth via programs aimed at assisting the poor.
Morales was elected with 54% of the vote, the highest in Bolivia’s history, and his mandate was re-endorsed in August 2008 with a remarkable 67% in a referendum.
Despite this democratic mandate, the United States government has worked overtime to destroy the government and the process of change it leads. The US has helped fund and organise the right-wing opposition in its campaign of destabilisation.
This campaign reached a head in September 2008 with a coup attempt by the opposition that involved fascist violence against state institutions, indigenous peoples and social movements. The Bolivian government expelled the US ambassador, Philip Goldberg, for his role in coordinating the campaign to bring down the elected government. That month, the Union of South American Nations (Unasur) unanimously expressed its full support to the legitimate government of Evo Morales, repudiating the US-organised coup attempt.
In light of all of this, the Socialist Alliance:
Motion carried unanimously
Sunday, December 7
Session presenter: Sue Bolton (Victorian State Convener) Chair: Ron Guy (Melbourne branch)
Greetings: Grant Morgan (Residents Action Movement, New Zealand-Aetoaroa), Brianna Pike (Resistance)
Policies for adoption
Moved: Sue Bolton (Melbourne North) Seconded: Paul Benedek, (Brisbane)
Amendment 1. Moved: Chris Slee (Melbourne North) Seconded: Various
Insert “some of” in paragraph (d) as shown in bold.
Amendment 1 accepted by mover
Amendment 2. Moved: Chris Slee (Melbourne North) Seconded: Various
In paragraph (i) replace struckthrough phrase with phrase in bold.
Amendment 2 accepted by mover
Amendment 3 Moved: Liam Mitchell (Blue Mountains) Seconded: Various
In paragraph (g) delete struckthrough phrase (the phrase in paragraph (g) is struckthrough).
Amendment 3 accepted by mover
Amendment 4 Moved: Katie Cherrington (Melbourne North) Seconded: Sue Bolton (Melbourne North)
In paragraph (f) replace “demise” with “decline”.
Amendment 4 accepted by mover
Motion as amended carried unanimously
Moved: Pip Hinman (Sydney Central) Seconded: Tim Dobson (Illawarra)
That Socialist Alliance continues to give priority to re-building an anti-war movement around the key demand of: troops out of Afghanistan and Iraq. In addition to supporting and initiating protest demonstrations against the war, this means encouraging all union members to look at the possibility of winning their union to an active position against both wars.
That Socialist Alliance also seeks out the opportunities to highlight and oppose the anti-democratic anti-terror laws and call for their abolition.
That Socialist Alliance joins in other protests, as they arise, relating to the campaign to close down US bases on Australian soil, no money for defence and militarism.
Amendment 1 Moved: Ruth Ratcliffe (Adelaide) Seconded: Renfrey Clarke (Adelaide)
Add before the final paragraph:
“The Socialist Alliance opposes the allocation of $26 billion annually to military spending and calls for the reallocation of these funds to address the climate crisis.”
Amendment 1 accepted by mover
Amendment 2 Moved: Luke Weyland (Sydney West) Seconded: Greg Rowell (Sydney West)
Add the following paragraph:
“We oppose any threats against other nations, such as Iran and Pakistan. We oppose Howard and Rudd’s terror laws and scapegoating of the Islamic community and the Tamil community.”
Note: The content of amendment 2 was accepted by the mover, when assigned as two separate amendments. This was agreeable to the mover of the amendment, such that the resolution as amended read:
Motion as amended carried unanimously
Moved: Jonathan Strauss (Northern Queensland) Seconded: Liam Mitchell (Blue Mountains)
Conference notes that the first federal Labor government in over a decade won the 2007 election on the basis of union and social movement organisation against the Howard government, as well as re-winning some working-class support through its commitments in the areas such as health, education and welfare.
While the Rudd government largely maintains support from progressive, broad left and union circles, its future responses, especially in the area of labour rights and action against climate change, are highly likely to disappoint many of its present supporters.
At the state level disillusionment with Labor administrations is much farther advanced, particularly in New South Wales. This disillusionment is being expressed in increased votes for Green, progressive independent and, at the local government level, socialist candidates.
The Socialist Alliance acknowledges that, in this context and especially in the case of major clashes between Labor and sections of the union movement, union-based forces may well choose to directly challenge ALP governments electorally.
In such a case the Socialist Alliance would be open to engaging with any serious attempt will engage with attempts to run progressive union-supported candidates in coming elections. This is particularly the case if these candidates are generated from progressive campaigns, movements and unions.
Amendment 1 Moved: Jonathan Strauss (Northern Queensland) Seconded: Dick Nichols (National Executiver)
To replace struckthrough words in text with phrase in bold.
Amendment 1 accepted by mover
Motion as amended carried unanimously
Moved: Ema Corro (Melbourne West) Seconded: Tony Iltis (Sydney Central)
The Socialist Alliance condemns the ethnic cleansing of Palestine by the state of Israel. While oppression against the Palestinians takes different forms – through the occupation of the Palestinian Territories, the siege of Gaza, the breaking up of the West Bank into isolated ghettos, systematic violence and discrimination against Palestinian citizens of Israel or exile as refugees – we recognize that they are all part of the same struggle for Palestinian self-determination.
That the Socialist Alliance supports:
The Socialist Alliance recognizes the essential role that international (including Australian) imperialism plays in supporting the Israeli system of Apartheid and Occupation through massive political, economic and military aid. Therefore the Socialist Alliance supports the International campaign for Boycott Divestment and Sanctions of Israeli Apartheid.
Amendment 1 Moved: Bea Bleile (New England) Seconded: Jonathan Strauss (Northern Queensland)
Change the first paragraph to read:
“The Socialist Alliance condemns the oppression of the Palestinians by the State of Israel, which takes different forms: the occupation of the Palestinian Territories, the siege of Gaza, the breaking up of the West Bank into isolated ghettos, systematic violence and discrimination against Palestinian citizens of Israel and the exile as refugees.”
Amendment 1 not accepted by mover
The mover proposed the following rewording of first paragraph, which was incorporated into the resolution as amended
“The Socialist Alliance condemns the ethnic cleansing of Palestine by the state of Israel. This oppression takes different forms – the occupation of the Palestinian Territories, the siege of Gaza, the breaking up of the West Bank into isolated ghettos, systematic violence and discrimination against Palestinian citizens of Israel or exile as refugees.”
Amendment 2 Moved: Liam Mitchell (Blue Mountains) Seconded: Various
Add point (f) to read:
“An end to the restrictions of movement of people and supplies (including medical supplies) around Palestine and between Palestine and Israel.”
Amendment 2 accepted by mover
Procedural motion (Moved: Conference Committee): To take the vote on Palestine after the session on supporting and strengthening Indigenous Australia’s struggle for justice.
Procedural motion carried unanimously
Procedural motion (Moved: Conference Committee) That, given the shortage of time, the National Conference not deal with the National Executive resolutions on Tibet and the Western Sahara.
Procedural motion carried unanimously
Session presenter: Pat Eatock (Aboriginal Rights Coalition) Chair: Jess Moore (Illawarra)
Sam Watson (Indigenous Rights Spokesperson) addressed the conference by phone from Brisbane on the issues confronting the movement for justice for Indigenous Australia.
Policies for adoption
Moved: Paul Benedek (Brisbane District) Seconded Chris Johnson (Geelong)
Introduction
In 1788 Australia was invaded and colonised, but the sovereignty of the original inhabitants of this country was never ceded. Across the continent the Indigenous peoples resisted. But treaties were never negotiated over the use or settlement of the land, and the colonisers invented a legal fiction – terra nullius – to justify their illegal and violent annexation. By pretending that the land wasn’t inhabited by a “civilised” people, the likes of James Cook and Joseph Banks laid the basis for two centuries of racism and oppression.
For the past 220 years, mothers, fathers and children have suffered the trauma of invasion, enslavement, assimilation, genocide, racist exclusion, land theft, the destruction of life, language and culture, and the denial of basic human rights. Under successive governments, whole populations were forced into missions, denied their language and culture, and given diseased blankets, and tea, flour, and tobacco to live on. In many areas, hunting parties were paid a bounty to chase down and kill those who refused to accept the new order.
Throughout the last century, Aboriginal children were removed from their families and communities, in order to “assimilate” what was deemed a “failed race” into the broader Australian population. These children were lied to about their heritage, and were used as slave labour – as housemaids, or on cattle stations – and were frequently abused. These children – collectively known as the Stolen Generations – still suffer from the effects of their separation, and are still waiting for meaningful reparation for their pain.
The Apology
The apology given by Kevin Rudd to the Stolen Generation was an important and necessary symbolic step forward—if long overdue. However, it does not mean that official racism is dead. Without compensation for the Stolen Generations and immediate action to overcome the inequality suffered by indigenous Australians, the apology will become just more hollow words from white Australia.
In 1992, the High Court finally laid to rest the white colonial fairytale that there was no such thing as Indigenous land ownership, that the country invaded in 1788 was terra nullius. But despite a world of promises, in the 16 years since Mabo Indigenous Australia remains without adequate recognition, often living in Third World conditions and with land rights inadequately recognised and respected. Deaths in custody and endemic racism continue, reinforced by negative media coverage and racist government legislation, such as the Howard Government’s Northern Territory intervention in 2007.
The Northern Territory intervention — the new paternalism
The Howard government used the 2007 Little Children are Sacred report on the sexual abuse of children in Aboriginal communities to justify its intervention with police and army into Northern Territory Aboriginal settlements. There was no consultation with Indigenous communities, the Northern Territory’s land rights law and the permit system were suspended, welfare payments “quarantined” and employment projects cut.
The pretext for the intervention was not even mentioned in the legislation that enabled the intervention, and only a handful of actual charges of abuse laid. Northern Territory Aboriginal leaders maintain that the incidence of child molestation in their communities is less than in the broader community. If the concern about inadequate protection of Aboriginal children had been real, it would never have produced that intervention.
The intervention and the quarantining of welfare payments has forced people out of their communities, leading to increased homelessness (“long-grassing”), suicide and petty crime. This new paternalism, which continues under Rudd and state Labor governments, will only reproduce the same results as the old paternalism—poverty, alienation, powerlessness and hopelessness.
The only way to solve the problems facing Aboriginal communities across Australia is to work in coalition with the communities themselves, to provide the resources, training, and support to enable the communities to take control of their own affairs, instead of relying upon hand-outs or being pushed around at the point of a gun or pen.
Our basic approach
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples continue to be the victims, not the creators, of the policies that affect them. That is why the Socialist Alliance’s basic “policy approach” is to provide solidarity and support to all struggles for justice by Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people.
We stand for:
Justice for Indigenous Australia must begin with a frank and full acknowledgement of the fact that “White Australia has a Black history” and a determination to make amends wherever possible. Prime Minister Rudd’s apology to the Stolen Generations on February 13, 2008, was a good start, but more concrete steps have to be taken.
That requires:
Socialist Alliance supports the creation of a treaty or compact in order to enshrine and protect the rights of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. This is more than just a formality—in countries where treaties have been negotiated, and have provided a means to exercise genuine self-determination in Indigenous communities, health and other social problems have improved.
The Socialist Alliance says:
In health, housing, employment and education Indigenous Australia still lags, often shockingly, behind the rest of the population. Indigenous babies and children have twice the rate of low birth weight, seven times the rate of sudden infant death and seven times the death rate from childhood infectious diseases and accidents as non-Indigenous children.
The life expectancy of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people is 17 years below that of non-Indigenous Australians, and at present rates of change it will never reach that of the non-Indigenous population! This contrasts shamefully with the progress in life expectancy of the Maori people in New Zealand and the First Nations peoples of Canada. To make things worse, for years, Indigenous health has been under-funded by at least $500 million annually. This must be turned around immediately.
We need to end the genocide taking place by neglect, by extending and improving Indigenous health and other community needs through fully funded and targeted services controlled by Indigenous Australians and their communities. The Socialist Alliance calls for an emergency campaign to “close the gap” in life expectancy within a generation, and to eliminate Indigenous social disadvantage and inequality across the board within a decade.
Socialist Alliance calls for a target date of 2012 for Aboriginal students to match or better the educational development of Australian students as a whole, and aim for similar targets in health, housing and employment. A properly funded program of positive discrimination for Indigenous people in education and training and a real Indigenous job creation campaign could have started to solve the problems of Aboriginal communities’ hopelessness years ago.
Funding for programs that have been shown to reduce social and economic disadvantage must be kept up and increased. Any real plan to achieve social and economic equality for Indigenous people must include the following measures, developed and overseen by the appropriate Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities and organisations. Aboriginal control over the administration of Aboriginal affairs must be the practice, not just on paper. Socialist Alliance says:
Health
Housing
Education
Employment
Indigenous Australians in jail
Indigenous Australians make up less than 2% of the population, but make up 26% of the jail population. There can be no social justice and equality for Aboriginal Australians until problems that cause this situation are tackled by:
After three decades of Land Rights, and 15 years of Native Title, it is clear that consecutive governments and legislation have failed to meet the aim of increasing the rights of Indigenous people to live on traditional lands. The National Native Title Tribunal has failed to secure Indigenous rights in the face of corporate, especially mining, interests. The Howard government’s abolition of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) and attack on Land Rights in the Northern Territory shows the vulnerability of Indigenous rights in the face of hostile Governments intent on a racist land-grab.
Socialist Alliance stands for full Land Rights and compensation for land taken, and recognises the existence of Indigenous self-governance and the right of Indigenous peoples to self-determination.
Socialist Alliance also calls for increased funding and support for Indigenous community-run services to overcome the lack of necessary expertise among local communities. The Socialist Alliance approach is to strengthen the economic and skills base of the land councils system and local communities, and in this way support Indigenous people in the creation of sustainable, self-managed communities.
Socialist Alliance says:
Amendments 1 to 8 Moved: Paul Benede (Brisbane) Seconded: Chris Johnson (Geelong)
To amend the text of the charter as shown by changes in bold italic and associated strikethoughs.
Amendments 1 to 8 accpeted by mover
Amendments 9 to 15 Moved: Jonathan Strauss (Northern Queensland) Seconded: Dick Nichols (National Executive)
To amend the text of the charter as shown by changes in bold and associated strikethoughs.
Amendments 9 to 15 accepted by mover
Motion as amended carried unanimously
Moved: Margarita Windisch (Melbourne West) Seconded: Susan Price (Sydney East)
Conference demands:
Amendment 1 Moved: Sam Wainwright (Fremantle) Seconded: Renfrey Clarke (Adelaide)
Add to point 3:
“and not extended to Western Australia”
Amendment 2 Moved: Margarita Windisch (Melbourne West) Seconded: Susan Price (Sydney East)
Amend point 2 to read:
“That the Northern Territory Emergency Response legislation be repealed and the Racial Discrimination Act be restored” and become point 1, and point 1 become point 2.
Amendment 3 Moved: Margarita Windisch (Melbourne West) Seconded: Susan Price (Sydney East)
Delete point 3.
Amendment 2 and 3 acceptable to mover
Amendment 4 Moved: Sam Wainwright (Fremantle) Seconded: Renfrey Clarke (Adelaide)
Add to amended point 1:
“and the intervention and welfare quarantining not be extended into other states”;
Amendment 4 acceptable to mover
Motion as amended carried unanimously
Note: The motion as adopted reads:
Conference demands:
Procedural motion Moved: Conference Committee
That the resolution on Lex Wotton, arising from the Aboriginal rights struggle workshop, be taken in this session.
Procedural motion carried unanimously
Moved: Trent Hawkins (Melbourne West) Seconded: Various
The murder of Mulrunji Doomadji and the jailing of Lex Wotton and other Palm Islanders for protesting the death in custody reflects the broader racism and injustice towards Aboriginal people in Australia
Therefore the Socialist Alliance should:
Motion carried unanimously
Motion arising. Moved: Paul Benedek(Brisbane Region) Seconded: Various
That conference carry out a collection to be sent to Lex Wotton’s family.
Motion carried unanimously
Session presenter: David White (National Environment Coordinator) Chair: Brianna Pike (Sydney Central)
Cam Walker (Friends of the Earth) addressed conferences on the challenges facing the movement against global warming
Policies for adoption
Moved: David White (Brisbane) Seconded: Various
Conference resolves to change the text of the 2008 edition of the Climate Change Charter to read:
“To limit the increase to 2° the Socialist Alliance says we should aim for a target of 300-325 parts per million (ppm) of atmospheric carbon dioxide. This target is to be achieved as rapidly as possible through immediate and urgent reductions in greenhouse gas emissions with the aim of achieving zero net emissions and then carbon draw-down.
“We need mandatory annual emissions reduction targets of at least 5%. We propose immediate economy-wide and sector-by-sector planning for all greenhouse gases, to meet these targets on time or before. We must establish mechanisms to review and change these targets as scientific forecasts are updated.”
Amendment 1 Moved: Ben Courtice (Melbourne West) Seconded: Ema Corro (Melbourne West)
Delete:
To limit the increase to two degrees
Insert:
To restrict the increase to no more than two degres and assist in reversing this increase.
Amendment accept by mover
Amendment 2 Moved: Renfrey Clarke (Adelaide) Seconded: Kamala Emanuel (Sydney Central)
There is no additional level of atmospheric greenhouse gases that can be regarded as safe. Even at present levels, Arctic sea ice is rapidly diminishing, threatening widespread melting of permafrost and vast releases of the potent greenhouse gas methane.
To forestall climate catastrophe, the Socialist Alliance calls for urgent action to reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide levels well below those of the present. We need mandatory annual emissions reduction targets of 6% to 8%. Immediate economy-wide and sectoral plans must be developed and given the force of law.
Per head of population, Australia has the highest greenhouse gas emissions of any industrially developed country.
Amendment not accepted by mover
Procedural motion Moved: Jonathan Strauss (Northern Queensland)
To suspend standing orders to allow a general discussion.
The procedural motion was lost
Procedural motion Moved: Paul Benedek (Brisbane District)
That a committee of David White, Renfrey Clarke, Kamala Emanuel and Ben Courtice meet over lunch to develop a new wording for the two paragraphs under debate.
The procedural motion was carried
Note: Foreshadowed amendments not put because of procedural motion:
Moved: Renfrey Clarke (Adelaide) Seconded: David White (Brisbane)
Introduction
The Socialist Alliance National Executive has not produced a draft energy policy for the 2008 National Conference, pending the imminent release of the Rudd Government White Paper and the current UN climate change negotiations. It proposes that Conference adopt the following energy policy guidelines.
Core issues for energy policy
This authority would:
Financing energy sustainability
Projections
Motion carried unanimously
Moved: Ben Courtice (Melbourne West) Seconded: Chris Johnson (Geelong)
The Problem
The current drought, exacerbated by global warming, has shown that current levels of water use are completely unsustainable in Australia, the world’s driest inhabited continent. Excessive water use, especially by heavy industry and water-intensive agribusiness, is causing irreparable damage to our fragile ecosystems and creating chronic water shortages. Conventional free-market economics aims to solve this problem by putting a price on water and allowing it to be traded by those who can afford to purchase it.
This approach allows governments to ignore the real challenge of conserving water properly and rationing its use according to need. Trading in water encourages speculation and the most profitable rather than the most sustainable and socially just uses. It leads to poor farming practices and increased prices for residential use.
The National Water Initiative has this approach. It is also insufficiently funded to achieve the wholesale conversion of water infrastructure and reduction in water demand that the ecosystems along the Murray-Darling basin need to recover.
Our Solution
A serious water conservation policy has to target the big industrial and agricultural water users. Currently the lack of water conservation by industry and agribusiness means that the efforts of householders to conserve water are being wasted.
The Socialist Alliance says that water is not simply a commodity or an input into industry and agriculture but is the central element of our ecosystems. Instead of market-based approaches we advocate an all-round plan for water sustainability based on a thorough scientific assessment of rivers, wetlands and water tables.
The knowledge of Indigenous communities is an essential part of making that assessment and developing sound proposals for water conservation.
In the country, measures to preserve normal water flows in rivers and wetlands and implement low-input sustainable farming practices are essential. In the cities, we need to reduce water waste and start harvesting storm water and recycling waste water.
There is enough water for everyone if comprehensive conservation measures are adopted and its use is allocated fairly. Such an approach will also remove the need to build further large, environmentally damaging, dams. To achieve the goal of water sustainability, public ownership and democratic, accountable management of water resources is essential. Unless the water supply is publicly owned, the profit motive will always disrupt scientifically based water conservation measures.
No privatisation of water
No privatisation of water and water infrastructure (dams, water pipelines, pumping stations). Where these have already been privatised, they should be returned to public ownership
Create an all-round water conservation plan
Restore adequate river flows
Amendment 1 Moved: Ben Courtice (Melbourne West) Seconded: Delegates participating in water policy workshop
Delete:
providing grants to subsidise installation of
Insert:
“free programs to instal”
Amendment accepted by mover
Amendment 2. Moved: Ben Courtice (Melbourne West) Seconded: Delegates participating in water policy workshop
Delete:
Recycle water for appropriate industrial and outdoor use
Insert:
“Mandate the use of recycled water for appropriate industrial and outdoor use”
Amendment accepted by mover
Motion as amended carried unanimously
Procedural motion (Conference committee)
To take the motion on our environment work arising from the workshop at this point on the agenda
Procedural motion carried unanimously
Moved: Susan Price (Sydney East) Seconded: Kamala Emanuel (Sydney Central)
Motion carried unanimously
Chair: Pip Hinman
Conference heard from Soubhi Iskander (Communist Party of Sudan, Socialist Alliance), Dr Brian Senewiratne (Fighter for Tamil rights, Socialist Alliance), Oscar Fuentes (Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front), Turan Ertekin (Party of Labour, Turkey, Socialist Alliance)
Policies for adoption
Moved: Graham Mathews (Sydney West) Seconded: Various
Conference welcomes and approves the affiliation application of the Sudanese Australian Human Rights Association and looks forward to advancing collaboration with the SHRA and building closer ties of solidarity with the Sudanese community in Australia.
Motion carried unanimously
Moved: Brian Senewiratne (Brisbane Region) Seconded: Paul Benedek (Brisbane Region)
The Socialist Alliance demands:
That the Sri Lankan government stops the bombing, shelling and all military operations against the Tamil minority, and starts political negotiations based on the right to self-determination of the Tamils.
We also demand the Australian government:
Motion carried unanimously
Motions held over from previous sessions
On Palestine
The mover proposed the following rewording of first paragraph, which was incorporated into the resolution as amended:
“The Socialist Alliance condemns the ethnic cleansing of Palestine by the state of Israel. This oppression takes different forms—the occupation of the Palestinian Territories, the siege of Gaza, the breaking up of the West Bank into isolated ghettos, systematic violence and discrimination against Palestinian citizens of Israel or exile as refugees.”
The resolution as amended read:
“The Socialist Alliance condemns the ethnic cleansing of Palestine by the state of Israel. This oppression takes different forms—the occupation of the Palestinian Territories, the siege of Gaza, the breaking up of the West Bank into isolated ghettos, systematic violence and discrimination against Palestinian citizens of Israel or exile as refugees.
That the Socialist Alliance supports:Palestinian right to self determination.
Israeli withdrawal from the Occupied Territories.
Equal civil and democratic rights for all inhabitants of Historic Palestine.
Right of return for Palestinian refugees.
An end to Israeli aggression against other countries in the region.
An end to the restriction of movement of people and supplies (including medical supplies) around Palestine and between Palestine and Israel.The Socialist Alliance recognises the essential role that international (including Australian) imperialism plays in supporting the Israeli system of Apartheid and Occupation through massive political, economic and military aid. Therefore the Socialist Alliance supports the International campaign for Boycott Divestment and Sanctions of Israeli Apartheid.”
Motion as amended carried with one against
On a change to Socialist Alliance greenhouse gas emission reduction targets
Moved: Committee of David White, Kamala Emanuel, Ben Courtice and Renfrey Clarke
Conference resolves to change the text of the 2008 edition of the Climate Change Charter to read:
“For a safe climate the Socialist Alliance says we should aim for a target of 300-325 ppm of atmospheric carbon dioxide. This target is to be achieved as rapidly as possible through immediate and urgent reductions in greenhouse gas emissions with the aim of achieving zero net emissions and then carbon draw-down.
Current science indicates that annual emissions reductions of at least 5% will be essential. We propose immediate economy-wide and sector-by-sector planning for all greenhouse gases, to meet these targets on time or before. We must establish mechanisms to review and change these targets as scientific forecasts are updated.”
Motion as amended carried unanimously
Building the Socialist Alliance workshops
Chair: Rachel Evans
Policies for adoption
Moved: Stuart Harrison (Geelong) Seconded: Various
This conference calls on the Socialist Alliance National Executive to authorise the creation of a “Media Reform” e-list
Motion carried unanimously
Moved: Dave Riley (National Executive) Seconded: Various
Socialist Alliance condemns the Australian government’s intention to introduce mandatory internet filtering.
This policy was initiated by the Howard government and is being continued by the ALP despite their opposition to it during the election.
According to this policy, all web traffic into Australia will be checked against a secret blacklist of banned sites
This policy fails the basic test of freedom of information and is also technically impossible to implement.
Socialist Alliance supports the nationwide protests on Dec 13 against mandatory internet filters.
Motion carried unanimously
Moved: Tim Gooden (Geelong) Seconded: Various
This conference calls on the Green Left Weekly board/office/staff to modernise and relaunch the Green Left Weekly journalism guide and request all Socialist Alliance branch leaderships to hold “Green Left Weekly as an activist tool” workshops/classes during 2009/2010 with a view to skilling up and involving more Socialist Alliance members in ther Green Left Weekly project.
Motion carried unanimously
Moved: Paul Benedek (Brisbane region) Seconded: (Dick Nichols, National Executive)
For some time now - dating back at least to our 2003 national conference - we’ve recognised the need for the Socialist Alliance to produce our own “lively and compelling case for socialism”, in the form of a book or pamphlet that outlines the case for socialism.
Up until now, we still haven’t produced such a document. We have, of course, produced many excellent policy documents—from the Climate Change charter to heaps of material on fighting unions, to Indigenous rights documents, a welfare charter and much more.
However, a serious gap remains in Socialist Alliance’s “political armoury”—a concise, easily accessible document that outlines Socialist Alliance’s case for socialism as the only rational future for people and planet. The Socialist Alliance continues to develop as an impressive activist organisation, known for our tenacious work in all manner of movements for justice - yet for the many people who come around and ask “what are you about, what is socialism?”, we tend to be lacking in explanatory materials - beyond giving them a range of charters and leaflets.
The fact that we haven’t yet produced such a document on socialism probably is a further indication of our limited resources at a national level, and that we all have to collectively work to take more of the load of SA, and see national projects - such as producing a booklet on socialism - as our responsibility, not someone else’s.
With this in mind, and having heard from both Gold Coast and Brisbane Socialist Alliance comrades a strong interest in such a booklet, I would like to propose a resolution to conference, for which I’m prepared to play a coordinating role:
That conference establishes a writing team of comrades interested in producing a “Booklet on socialism” (I would be willing to coordinated such a team).
Motion carried unanimously
Moved: Graham Matthews (Sydney West) Saeconded: Gregory Rowell (Sydney West)
Conference resolves:
That Socialist Alliance draft a brief (no more than one A4 page) description of what Socialist Alliance stands for, to be given to those interested in finding out more/joining the Socialist Alliance. That the leaflet be generally in dot point form, illustrating the main points of Socialist Alliance policy.
That the Socialist Alliance policy leaflet be translated into as many community languages as practical and be made available to branches for use on stalls as a recruiting tool.
Motion carried unanimously
Moved: Dick Nichols (National Executive) Seconded: Various
That conference adopts the National Treasurer’s report and income and expenditure statement for 2006-2008 (i.e., since the Fifth National Conference)
Motion carried unanimously
Moved: Dick Nichols (National Executive) Seconded: Various
That Conference endorses the minutes of the Fifth National Conference
Motion carried unanimously
Moved: Dick Nichols (National Executive) Seconded: Various
Insert the following new sentence at the end of 8.1:
“The National Executive may charter branches on a non-geographical basis where this helps the organisation of members.”
So that 8.1 would read:
“8.1 The basic unit of the Socialist Alliance is the local branch. A branch shall have at least seven members. Each new branch must be ratified by the National Executive taking into account the location of other branches, including in relation to federal and state electoral work. All Alliance members will be assigned to a branch by the appropriate district organising committee (see below) or, in the case of remote regions, by the National Executive. Members will normally live in the area covered by their branch, but alternatively may indicate the branch in which they will be active to the district organising committee or National Executive. The National Executive may charter branches on a non-geographical basis where this helps the organisation of members.”
Motion carried unanimously
Moved: David White (Brisbane) Seconded: Chris Johnson (Geelong)
(Note: Existing text of the Constitution is in italic. Amendments proposed are in bold italic.)
Amendment lost (1 For, 2 Abstentions)
6.6 The National Executive shall be composed of:
with
The National Executive shall be composed of:
Amendment by David White to amendment iii (changed text underlined, deleted text struckthrough)
The National Executive shall be composed of:
Amendment lost
Amendment lost (4 For, 4 Abstentions)
Amendment carried unanimously
Amendment lost (4 For, 4 Abstentions)
Moved: Dick Nichols (National Executive)
Dot point carried unanimously
Dot point carried with 3 abstentions
Amendments to dot point
Moved: Jonathan Strauss (Northern Queensland) Seconded: Tony Iltis (Sydney Central)
Delete:
From the Sixth National Conference the State and Territory representatives shall be Queensland 3, New South Wales 4, Victoria 2 and 1 each from the other states and territories, those representatives to be selected by the relevant state executive or state committee
Insert:
These shall be 3 from NSW, 2 from Queensland and Victoria and 1 each from the other states and territories, those representatives to be selected by the relevant state executive or state committee.
Amendment lost (3 For, 1 Abstention)
Add at end of 6.6:
A State Executive or State Comittee may also select a further representative with voice only, if it has a branch outside the state’s metropolitan centre, to ensure this is reflected.
Amendment lost (10 For, 15 Against, 2 Abstentions)
Dot point carried with 1 Abstention
Motion A
Moved: David White (Brisbane) Seconded: Various
That conferenceadopt the following new dues structure for the Socialist Alliance
Dues
Current Proposed
$ $
School student 6 scale deleted
Concessional 12 18
Ordinary 24 36
Solidarity 60 90
Proposed voluntary member solidarity support payments
There are three levels of general support, the level to be chosen by members themselves based on their ability to pay.
Per month* Per annum
$ $
Level 1 6.50 78
Level 2 13 156
Level 3 19.50 234
Motion B
Moved: Dick Nichols (National Executive) Seconded: Various
That conference adopt the following new dues structure for the Socialist Alliance
School students $5
Welfare/low waged $15
Waged $30
High waged $60
Solidarity $100
Procedural motion. Moved: Dick Nichols (National Executive)
That the two proposals be discussed together
Procedural motion carried unanimously
Amendment to Proposition a. Moved: Ben Courtice Seconded Tim Dobson
That the High School dues rate not be deleted from the scale
Amendment not acceptable to the mover
Amendment lost, (3 For, 12 Against, 3 Abstentions)
Amendment to Proposition B. Moved: Kiraz Janicke (Sydney West) Seconded Various
That a generic sustainer category be included at the end of the new dues scale proposed
Amendment acceptable to the mover
Motion A as amended was lost with 3 For and 1 Abstention
Motion B as amended was carried with 1 Against and 1 Abstention
Chair: Lisa Macdonald
Motions for adoption
Moved: Dick Nichols (National Executive) Seconded: Various
Conference resolves that the Socialist Alliance shall have two National Spokespersons in the coming period:
Motion carried unanimously
Moved: Dick Nichols (National Executive)
Carried by acclamation
Nominated
Margarita Windisch
David White
Dick Nichols
Bea Bleile
Duroyan Fertl
David White and Duroyan Fertl declined nomination
Margarita Windisch, Bea Bleile and Dick Nichols declared elected
Nominated
Jim McIlroy
Jim McIlroy declared elected
Nominated
David White
David White declared elected
Nominated
Soubhi Iskander
Soubhi Iskander declared elected
Nominated
Sam Watson
Sam Watson declared elected
Nominated
Pip Hinman
Pip Hinman declared elected
The Conference concluded at 7.30pm with the singing of the Internationale