Last year, the idea that was inconceivable, happened. Every state and territory in Australia, and the nation itself is now administered by Labor. The Federal system at its conception was designed to deprive Labor of any chance of significant reform. The idea was that in those states with a strong working class base, Labor might be needed to head off the spread of working class unrest whilst the conservatives could govern in the more pastoral states. The rulers hoped the conservative parties would govern federally for a long time. Even if Labor governed federally, the idea was for the states to prevent it from doing anything which might threaten the system. This schema worked well for the ruling elites throughout last century. These days, however, Labor is so bankrupt that the ruling class needn't worry.
"We were elected as an economically conservative government and we will administer as an economically conservative government", Rudd Labor promises the ruling class and their system. He means it and the capitalists know he means it. With the threat of rising interest rates, Treasurer Swann promises a tough budget. This will mean that the poor will suffer whilst the rich will get tax cuts.
Kevin Rudd is sincere when he calls himself an economic conservative. He is also a social conservative. In fact, there is no issue where he could be defined as radical.
Labor is planning to remove Australian troops from Iraq -- slowly. The US imperialists would like Australia to stay, even with token participation, as it makes them appear less isolated. They can tolerate this minor deviation so long as Rudd is loyal elsewhere. And this he is. Australia has assured America that it will be in Afghanistan for the long haul. Troops will stay for many years. The US has been concerned about many of its western Allies slackening off in Afghanistan. Australia is for the Americans an honourable exception. Rudd Labor is loyal to the US imperialist war drive but with minor tactical differences. Under Rudd, Australia will remain America's sheriff in the South Pacific.
Much is being made of Rudd's promise to rip off Workchoices and AWA's. He has kept his promise. He claims to have found a balance -- one very much in the boss's favour. Unions are not allowed to enter workplaces to organise. The CFMEU promised a campaign to win back what was lost thanks to Workchoices. Julia Gillard warned them that they would be met with the full face of the law!
Rudd is flying high on Black rights. His apology struck a chord amongst Australians in general. Sure, there should be an apology. It�s important because it accepts responsibility for the gross crimes against black people in this country. The point is to compensate and this Rudd refuses to do. His apparently altruistic rationalisation is that the money would be better spent on improving Black health, housing and education. Just imagine if the victims of the NSW hospitals were given nothing so the government could spend more improving the hospitals! Black lives were wrecked by racist government policy and they deserve compensation. The only way they can get it, thanks to Rudd, is through the arduous process of going through the High Court -- virtually impossible for all but a few victims. Workers� action for decent compensation for the stolen generation is needed now!
All this was a clever manoeuvre to embarrass the Liberals. It put them on the spot. Brendan Nelson equivocally apologised for the perpetrators, claiming that it was an understandable mistake rather than deliberate racism. People turned their back in anger. This he deserved.
And the invasion of black communities by Federal troops and coppers continues. Rudd offers a bit more local community consultation but not much more! It is outrageous that Black property has been stolen, dole money robbed and communities destroyed in the name of "fighting child sex�. Destroying black communities is not the way to defeat pedophilia. Building community solidarity is.
Howard�s social security agenda was horrendous. He introduced mutual obligation for both sole parents and the disabled. Those on unemployment benefits (Newstart) were gradually introduced to work for the dole which then became a full time programme. Now unemployed people have to work twenty five hours per week for their dole plus $5 for fares. The work is hardly light. It includes carpentry, concreting, bush regeneration, nurses and teacher�s aid work. All this should be paid for at proper award rates but unemployed workers for the dole struggle to buy food and pay rent.
All this was introduced by Howard but does Rudd intend to fundamentally change the situation? Of course not! Unemployed will continue to receive their lowly dole payment, be breached and be forced to work as slaves. The attacks on sole parents and the disabled remain.
Work for the dole is also an attack on the unionised workforce. Why employ labour at proper rates when you can use unemployed labour for nothing? This threat will be used to ensure that employed workers sacrifice hard fought for wages and conditions.
Howard�s so-called "Pacific Solution", meaning dumping refugees on Nauru, is now over. The Rudd government basically shares the Howard philosophy of "we decide who comes to Australia". Those disapproved of will be returned to where they came. Communists oppose all restrictions on immigration.
The elation over Howard�s defeat and Rudd election is mostly based on personality. Howard was an obnoxious rodent - sneaky, dishonest and lying. He played on base instincts such as racism and chauvinism. Rudd is a much nicer guy and a lot more honest. But we should not blind ourselves to the fact that we have, in office, a Tory government which is Labor in name only. There is no commitment whatsoever from this government to advancing working class interest. It is a matter of urgency that a new party of labour be built. Unions should disaffiliate from Labor as there is no future in that party. Why pay membership fees to a party committed to attack our interests?
Labor's right-wing degeneration is clear. Ever since Whitlam, Labor has been going right at the rate of knots. Even Whitlam's minor reforms were not acceptable to the ruling class. His government was ruthlessly deposed. Many decades later, Labor seems to have found a successful formula for its survival -- attacking us! We must reject Rudd and the constraints of parliament! Build a revolutionary communist party!