Organisers were stoked with an exceptional turnout for an anti-coal seam gas (CSG) rally that took place in Townsville on October 16 as part of the coordinated national day of action.
More than 150 protesters marched from Victoria Bridge through town chanting slogans such as 鈥淔rack is whack鈥 and 鈥淟ock the gate, before it鈥檚 too late鈥.
The rally proceeded to Anzac Park where various speakers addressed the crowd.
Gail Hamilton from the North Queensland Conservation Council said: 鈥淭he people in Townsville are standing up and saying we don鈥檛 want CSG鈥 It is not a safe energy option.鈥
900
More than 600 people rallied and marched in Brisbane鈥檚 CBD on October 16, as part of a national day of action to 鈥淒efend our water from coal and coal seam gas鈥. The rally in Queens Park was sponsored by the Lock and Gate Alliance and Defend Our Water Queensland.
Lock the Gate Alliance spokesperson Drew Hutton told the rally: 鈥淲e live in the driest country on earth. To allow the mining industry to pollute our water and destroy our best farming land is a disgrace.
鈥淲hy is the Labor government allowing the mining companies to ruin our state? And the Liberal-National Party are no better.鈥
About 200 people attended a rally and march in Brisbane Square on October 15 to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the sinking of the refugee boat SIEV-X, with the loss of 353 lives 鈥 146 of whom where children.
The then-Howard government and Australian navy knew of this disaster but allowed these asylum seekers, fleeing war and persecution, to die.
Speakers at the rally included former Democrats Senator and now Greens member Andrew Bartlett, an Iraqi refugee now settled in this country, and human rights lawyer Julian Burnside.
Ongoing occupations of public spaces were continuing on October 17 in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane in opposition to corporate domination and exploitation.
- Previous page
- Page 7