A L P SYS NO TO U&ji WI(W\ uni*. -« ».»inn* H AUTUMN 1984 AUSTRALIAN LEFT REVIEW 87 /* Organised Crime in N.S.W. Uranium and Labor Noel Couniban interview Tribune The best paper WHEN II& PIR 4M on the left H \ l ^ — ) In its 60 years. Tribune has been T k i & u u f r illegal, praised, quoted, raided, daily, sued, abused, searched, copied, busted ... but we have never been O silenced. We have appeared at least once a week since 1923 to support socialist and progressive movements. We have helped governments into office and helped others out, done our bit to win strikes and end wars. And we've opposed racism since our first issue, and fought for the underdog. J Z ic k If you wish to support this tradition or simplv see what Tribune has to say, please fill in the subscription form Subscribe! below. 1 enclose’ $ ....................lor a subscription One year's subscription to TRIBUNE and the revamped AUSTRALIAN LEFT REVIEW (Total $32 save $«); or TRIBUNE Two years ($40), one year ($25), six months ($ 13), introductory offer (6 issues for $2). Students, pensioners, unemployed: One year ($15), six months ($8). three months ($4). Prisoners free. NAME A D D R ESS................................................................................................... Postcode Bankcard No. □□□ □□ □□□ m m m Sign Date Send to: Tribune Circulation, 4 Dixon St, Sydney 2000. r HOT FOR LOAN AUSTRALIAN LEFT REVIEW B£FCBE L PRINTER AND PUBLISHER: Uranium Art and Politics Red Pen Publications P/L Socialist Feminist Uranium and Labor 4 Dixon Street, Sydney 2000. Twenty Years of '84 The Labor policy on Rock and Roll in uranium has changed EDITORIAL COLLECTIVE: Medicare Under Wollongong considerably from its Brian Aarons, Eric Aarons, Hilda In the last 20 years Siege original principled Andrews, Malcolm Andrews, technology has al­ 2 stand. Ronald and Barrie Blears, Steve Catt, Mark Leeks tered the face of the Discussion and Mark Hayes outline and Cole, Chris Dodds, Mike Australian music in d ­ Reply criticise the justific­ ustry. Arnle Olbrlch and Donaldson. Gloria Garton, Phil ations used for these Beyond Simple Nell Porter talk with Gissing, Mavis Robertson and changes. Linnell Secomb. One-to-one Mike Donaldson about 12 the effects of these Alternatives Roundtable changes. THANKS TO: Dave Davies, Arthur Rudkin com m - Redback Graphics, Tribune. Prospects for 38 ents on Bernie Taft's Art and Politics article "After the Socialism ACCOUNTS AND Excitement: Eurocomm­ Why is there a crisis in The b'oht icsof DISTRIBUTION: Hilda Andrews unism at the Cross­ socialism and what are Despair and Malcolm Andres (Sydney), roads" published in ALR the issues and history Raymond Southall looks Olga Silver (Melbourne). 86. behind the crisis? Eric at the political effects 4 Aarons chaired a and intent of George DESIGN: Mark Cole, Linnell Art and Politics roundtable discussion Orwell’s Nineteen Secomb. w ith Linda Carruthers, Elghty-coui. A n Ambition to Phil Hind, Bob Makln- ______ 42 TYPESETTING: Gloria Garton. Disturb son, Joe Palmada and Joyce Stevens to A Careful Analysis examine the causes. cover PHOTO: Self portrait, The Stumblebum Syn­ Noel Counlhan. Anti-uranium 20 drome. Reviewed by demonstration April 1978, Economic Notes Steve Catt. Sydney, photo from T r ib u n e . Floating the 46 Australian Dollar North-South, ALL CORRESPONDENCE & What have been the East-West ENQUIRIES: Australian Left consequences of the Kissinger's Kingdom? Review, Box A247, Sydney floating of the Australian Ryviowed by Peter Ross. South PO, Sydney 2000. dollar by the Hawke 48 government? Tad Arm s Race Wheelwright explains Greatest Danger the issues. 28 Taking Australia Off the Photoessay Map. Reviewed by Bill Photo record of Inter­ Gollan. national Women's Day 52 ALR welcomes contributed 1984 by Peter Murphy, articles and reviews within the Looking Again framework of an open concept of Noel Counlhan talks to Fiona Moore and Wendy at Markets marxism. Contributions should Oave Davies about his Rew. Thb Economics of be typed, double-spaced, on A4 art and politics — his 32 Feasible Socialism. size paper, or smaller. ambitions and inspir­ Organised Crime Reviewed by Eric Manuscripts which are not ation. Rigntwmg Labor Aarons. clearly typed and easily legible and Crime 54 will not be considered for Internationa Organised crime in NS IV Masses the Makers publication. Unused manu­ Sinn Fein has links with ‘legitim­ scripts wilt be returned if Gerry Adams' speech as ate1 capital and the of History accompanies by a stamped incominq President to Labor right. Denis Rebels and Radicals. addressed envelope. Maximum the Sinn Fein Annual Freney outlines the Reviewed by Drew word length for articles is 4,500 Conference. connections. Cottle. words, and reviews 1,500 words. ~ 10 34 60 Australian Left Review 87 1 workers'. Another banner, which was wrenched from BRIEFINGS demonstrators after it had focus for activity, a source- system has more openly smashed through a glass Socialist of information and a forum become a tool of economic partition read: Aus<raiian Feminist '84 for theoretical debate. One policy, with the provision of Paper Mills Combined concept involved the services overshadowed by Unions — Medibank, yet another promise broken'. The recent Socialist establishment of a number issues of regulation, Feminist Conference held of working groups on control of profiteering, and The basis of the ALP's in Melbourne attracted single issue campaigns as disputes between federal health policy in the lead-up over 400 participants and a way of organising activity and state governments and to the 1983 election had has inspired the formation within the union This the private sector over how been announced a year or of ongoing groups to tackle would include issues such to redistribute the burden two previously as The issues wmch were seen as as equal pay, taxation of paying for services. Hayden Health Plan' The introduction in 1973­ important focuses for reform and child care to ('Cheaper for Australia, action. name a few. While 75 oy Whitlam, Everingham Cheaper for Australians'). and Hayden of the One important initiative obviously such a union This was the plan which community health program which emerged at the would not be industrially has become known as and Medibank signalled a conference was the initial based, it was felt that Medicare. new emphasis on ease of organisation of group to organising as a union was Funded by a one percent access and increasing relaunch the Council of important so as to establish levy on taxable incomes government intervention in over $6,697 a year Action for Equal Pay. It was identification with both health policy. Reactions Medicare is a national felt that taking up the equai the labour movement and were swift and polarised. health insurance scheme pay fight once again is the feminist movement. The medical establishment wnich will cover 85 percent imperative as. despite While no details were targetted Medibank. The of scheduled medical fees. equal pay legislation, finalised and no clear specialists attack ended Medicare also provides an women continue to receive consensus emergea it was the long-standing system economic basis for only 80 percent of the obvious that considerable wages of men and this falls of free outpatients clinics expanding commjnity excitement and enthus­ in hospitals. health services through its to 66 percent when part­ iasm was generated by the time work is taken into Trade unionists and the allocation of $20 million to idea. The conference rank and file of the ALP account The Council of the states earmarked organising collective is to expressed strong support Action 'or Equal Pay was specif icially for community co-ordinate ongoing for Medibank and comm­ originally formed in 19?7 health. A third feature of discussion around this unity health. These groups Medicare's implement­ and was active until the idea. led opposition to Fraser's ation is the insistence on e arly '70s attacks on the reforms, limiting charges by Tweive years later, it is attempting to maintain the specialists in public clear that tne legislation on social wage in the face of hospitals to the scheduled the books has changed cutbacks, freezes, and a fee. little. A meeting to aiscuss regressive tax system. In It is this third and the possibility of relaunch­ addition, the women's seemingly minor aspect of ing the Council of Action lobby of the A l P has Medicare that is the pretext for Equal Pay will be held consistently supported for the present militant on A piil 14.1984 at 1 pm, at community health ser­ outburst by some of the the Mechanics Institute, vices. most highly paid special­ Cnr Sydney and Glenlyon When the Fraser govern­ ists in the country, in Roads, Brunswick. The ment set about its major focus for action support of their continuing systematic dismantling of could be around the re­ right *o profit from the use Medibank, the union evaluation of the worth of of publicly funded hosp­ women's work in tradit­ movement responded with itals. An alliance of a 24-hour general strike. A ional female jobs which are medicos, private health dramatic raid on the notoriously iow paid. The funds and private hospitals Socialist Feminist Sydney stock exchange concept of comparable has, for some months, been Conference participants. following the federal worth will be used to make running a series of media For more information, Dudget of 1978 led to this clear that traditional remale propaganda campaigns report in the Australian occupations have been the Socialist Feminist against Medicare in Financial Review the next support of private health undervalued and therefore Conference organising day: underpaid and should collective can be contacted insurance and medical C/- 6 Council Street, practice. be adjusted to come The trading floor, warned into line with men's wages Clifton Hill 3068.