Workers' Liberty

the emancipation of the working class is the act of the working class  

Workers' Liberty Australia  

Federal Court victory on fertility treatment access

IVF treatments and artificial insemination are now available to single women in Victoria. Justice Ross Sundberg of the Federal Court ruled that Victoria's infertility laws were invalid as they conflict with Federal anti-discrimination laws. Lesbian women, single or in a relationship, can now access fertility treatments if they do not disclose their same sex relationship. Federal law does not cover same sex relationships. PM Howard has said that he will try to change the law to allow the States to discriminate against single women. Labor and the Democrats intend to block this in the Senate. Both Howard and Victorian Premier Bracks, who supported the existing State law, are trying to get votes in rural area by pandering to right wing prejudice against single and lesbian mothers.

Sexuality, gender and class politics I n the 70's, slogans like "no women's (or gay) liberation without socialist revolution; no socialist revolution without women's (or gay) liberation" were heard from the far left. Today, we have a return to simple minded economism from much of the labour movement, while feminist and queer theory are dominated by abstract and idealist postmodernists. The left desperately needs to reintegrate Marxist class analysis with the theorisation of human oppression and develop a perspective for the labour movement to take up the struggles of all the oppressed: to be "a tribune of the people". Workers' Liberty in Melbourne is organising a series of discussions to assist with this task.

WorkersÕ Liberty sponsored political discussions: sexuality, gender and class

Next meeting: Wednesday 6 September, 7pm, 9 Percy St, Brunswick
Contact: Riki on 93877819 for information and readings.

Vic EEO Laws: We need a campaign

UNITE, the group for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (lgbt) workers, met for the second time on 20 July. A meeting with Attorney General Rob Hulls had been arranged to discuss the stalling of legislation to ban discrimination against transgendered people and to extend protection for same sex relationships from "legal sexual activity" to "sexual preference".

The delegation was to include representatives of UNITE, GLAM (lgbt ASU members), Victorian Gay and Lesbian Rights Lobby, Transgender Victoria and the Fertility Rights Coalition. The meeting was delayed, due to Hulls' unavailability, and still has not been set. Some people wanted to set up a campaign on the issue before meeting Hulls, but most felt that it was better to give the Labor government a chance to show its intentions first.

With the continuing foot dragging, it should be clear now that we need to move immediately to set up a campaign around the legislation.

The sort of things that need to be done include:

1. Form an ad hoc committee with representative from interested groups and individuals to co-ordinate a campaign to get the Bill passed in its original form;
2. Organise a public meeting during the next sitting of State Parliament. Build towards a major demonstration on lgbt rights - for the passage of the Bill, for Super rights, for access to reproductive technology;
3. Challenge independents Savage and Ingram, who have opposed the laws, to justify their attitude. A delegation should be sent to speak to them. Approach community groups and individuals in their electorates e.g. gay groups, counselling services to speak to them. Public meetings could be organised in the electorates. If they remain intransigent, a more militant approach like picketing etc could be undertaken;
4. Unions need to be approached to take up the issue Ð the framework would be to hold the ALP to its policies in this area as in those of more traditional concern to unionists. Other areas where the ALP is not sticking to its promises need to be identified and united fronts sought with appropriate groups;
5. ALP branch and faction meetings be addressed and asked to carry motions of support.

The group also decided to have a formal relationship with Victorian Trades Hall Council. This was seen as having advantages: improved status with affiliated unions; direct input to VTHC Executive; more support from VTHC Executive. The possible disadvantage is that major decisions need to get approved. Drafts of a mission statement, aims and objectives and terms of reference were discussed for decision at the next meeting. Meetings are at 6pm on the third Thursday each month at La Notte, 140 Lygon St - next meeting 17 August.