“Everyone’s worried about stopping terrorism. Well, there’s really an easy way: stop participating in it.”
– Noam Chomsky, 2002

We are only year into the Abbott regime, and already we have seen dramatic changes to the Australian political climate. The current government has begun a programme of radically stripping civil liberties in the name of security, whilst expanding the circus of ‘anti-terrorist’ propaganda and policing. They herald another war, supporting the US in cleaning up the excesses of their imperialist campaigns in the Middle East. While the drum beat of war sounds, attacks on the rights of the working class are passed in parliament with barely a whisper from the politicians and media, though we have seen some signs of working class resistance.

In our third issue of The Platform, we explore Australia’s racist colonial legacy, and its relationship with war. We look at the recent nationwide ‘terror raids’, and the subsequent spree of racist violence against Muslims and people of colour. In particular, we examine the role of national security theatre in continuing the colonial project of defining ‘Australian’ identity and ask what an antifascist response might look like.

After 100 years of attempts to reinvent the pointless slaughter of the ‘Great War’, we examine the politics of war remembrance. From the Aboriginal warriors who fought and died resisting colonial invasion, but who are deemed not worthy of commemoration by the state, to the conscription of the dead soldiers of the Western Front.

We continue to address the need to develop better processes for dealing with sexual violence in our communities, as well as questioning recent criticism of the public ‘calling out’ of those who commit sexual violence and appeals for more ‘compassion’ for perpetrators.

Finally, we take a look at worker’s organising. Tom discusses experiences and approaches to organising in the hospitality industry, and in an interview with Dave Kerin, we discuss the Earthworker cooperative and its potential as a limited form of workers’ control of production. As the hysterical dogwhistling about immigration continues, we discuss racism in the union movement, particularly in relation to responses to the 457 visa category, and look to examples of anti-racist organising within the labour movement as an alternative.

Every week brings a new attack on the working class and oppressed communities in Australia. Anarchists and others on the left need to start taking seriously the importance of acting in *genuine solidarity* with marginalised communities.

– Anarchist Affinity

Contents

Terror Raids in the age of Team Australia

Racism and labour organising in Australia

Download (pdf): The Platform – Spring 2014

Acknowledgements

This publication was written, printed and distributed on the land of the Wurundjeri people of the Kulin Nation. This land was stolen by white colonisers, sovereignty has never been ceded. We must act in solidarity with their fight for justice, and that of all colonised peoples.

Thanks are owed to Dan, Tess, Dave, Ben, Sam, Rebecca, Tom, Kieran.

Hard Copies

To order printed copies for distribution, contact editor at anarchistaffinity dot org.

Donations

Paper and toner costs money. One day we’d love to be able to pay writers. If you’ve enjoyed this issue of The Platform and can spare a fiver, our bank details are:

Bank: Bendigo Bank
Account Name: Makhno Resource Group
BSB and Account Number: 633-000 153198106