Canberra’s march was a big one, 6000 or so, filling the traffic ramp from Parliament going down to the lights, and still a tail coming around the corner at the back.
Vintage Reds joined the red contingent, representing “the front lines of change”, and made up of a vast swirl of AEU flags, individual AEU school banners, and ALP T-shirts, among others. Others clumped into purple, green, rainbow groups… a lovely sight.
Photo: Jane Timbrell
17 to 29 November @ Civic Square
Aspen Island Theatre Company, “The Public Theatre”
21 to 29 November @ the Street, 7.30 pm (and 6 pm Sundays)
The Chain Bridge, by Tom Davis
Friday 27 November @8 pm Q Theatre, Queanbeyan
Sydney World Music Chamber Orchestra
Sunday 29 November @ 12 Parliament House
People’s Climate March
@2 pm NLA Theatre
2015 Harold White lecture: Hannie Rayson,
“The Author is Not Dead: She is coming to a microphone near you.”
Monday 30 November @ 6 pm National Library Bookshop
Book launch: Inspiring Australians, by Penelope Hanley
John Minns from Canberra’s Refugee Action Committee spoke to the Vintage Reds at our monthly meeting on 17 November 2015.
There are lots of sources of information available which correct the “myths” about refugees – for example this one from the Federal government’s Parliamentary Library.
The Refugee Action Committee’s humanitarian and rational alternative policy for Australia’s response to refugees can be found here. See a summary of John’s address below: Continue reading
“Joe Hill ain’t dead”, he says to me, “Joe Hill ain’t never died.
Where working folk are out on strike, Joe Hill is at their side.”
Joe Hill, unjustly convicted and executed on 19 November 1915, was remembered in Canberra with an evening concert at the Woden Tradies’ Club, courtesy of George Mann and friends, and a lunchtime busk in Civic.
photo: Gavin Holmes
Copies of Fair Go for Canberra’s “FAKEA” leaflets caused a buzz at the Vintage Reds November meeting, which was held the day after the grand opening of the new IKEA store.
Activists placed mock IKEA catalogues and fake price tags on sale items around the store, highlighting the aggressive corporate tax minimisation of major multinationals like IKEA. Over the decade to 2013, IKEA paid just 3% tax on its profits in Australia, instead of the 30% one would expect, resulting in $269 million missing tax dollars for health, education, etc. etc.
Clever accounting tricks are used to minimise tax – some spectacularly ingenious, along the lines of being charged by a family member to use the family surname and claiming the cost as a tax write-off!
Lyndal Ryan, ACT Secretary of United Voice, addressed the Vintage Reds October meeting, on the issue of “Penalty Rates”. 
United Voice represents workers in cleaning and security, childcare, aged care, higher education, hospitals and clubs, leisure and hotels. Its history goes back to the Watchmen, Caretakers & Cleaners’ Union of 1910, and more recently the Liquor, Hospitality & Miscellaneous Workers Union (LHMU or “Missos”), formed by amalgamation in 1992. So it’s celebrating a hundred years of looking after workers’ interests.
What’s On: late October:
Tuesday 27 October, 6 p.m., University House ANU. Book launch, Australia in 1980, by Assoc. Prof. Frank Bongiorno.
Thursday 29 October to 18 November, Palace Cinema, Acton. British Film Festival.
29 October, 6 p.m., Australian Centre for Christianity & Culture, Barton. “Countering Racism in the Media”, by Stan Grant. Continue reading
Garden Party in aid of the Early Morning Centre
The Early Morning Centre is a breakfast provider and community services hub in Civic, catering for people who are homeless or vulnerable.
Saturday 21 November 2pm-5pm
10 Currong Street, Reid
Come and sit in Donna Stewart’s beautiful garden and listen to Geoff Page’s jazz band.
Entry: $20 includes afternoon tea with tea and coffee. You are welcome to bring other drinks.
Some seats are available as well as a lovely grassed area ideal for a rug but you might like to bring a folding chair.
ACT delegates from United Voice, supported by the CFMEU, Vintage Reds and others, marched along Monaro Street, Queanbeyan last Wednesday to the office of the federal Member for Eden-Monaro, Peter Hendy, to voice their support for penalty rates.
ACT United Voice secretary Lyndal Ryan said that weekend penalty rates made the difference between financial security and living in poverty for many people in her union, which includes child care, aged care, cleaning, hospital and hospitality workers.
The march paused on the bridge for an anonymous UnionsACT photographer:
The Build a Better Future campaign in Eden-Monaro is running events in Queanbeyan for Anti-Poverty Week, with a street stall on Tuesday 13 October to highlight the threats to penalty rates; and a march to local member Peter Hendy’s office on Wednesday 14 October.
Here’s the Better Future campaign’s invitation for Wednesday! Contact Jeremy Kirkwood if you want more information:
Peter Hendy has stated that he supports getting rid of penalty rates for everyday workers. So we will be marching to his office to call on him to support workers conditions and we need you to join us! We will be
meeting near the Riverbank of Queanbeyan Cafe (look for the banner) at 12.00pm sharp.
