The World Socialist Web Site and Socialist Equality Party will be holding public meetings in Sydney and Melbourne to discuss the new “anti-terrorism” legislation currently before parliament. The “Anti-Terrorism Bill 2005” provides the legislative framework for a police-state in Australia. It is unprecedented in both its content and the conspiratorial methods that are being used to push it through state and federal parliaments.

Despite mass opposition to the new laws, Labor, the nominal opposition party, has cooperated with the Howard government at every step. The Greens and Democrats refused to take a stand against draconian amendments to the existing anti-terror legislation, which passed unanimously through the Senate on November 3.

What accounts for this bipartisan assault on democratic rights? This question can only be addressed by analysing the underlying economic, social and political processes that have given rise to a new period of militarism and police-state measures, not just in Australia but around the world.

The public meetings in Sydney and Melbourne will review the significance of the anti-terror legislation, and advance the independent socialist perspective to combat war, inequality and the mounting attacks on democratic rights. Following the speakers, the floor will be open for questions and discussion. We warmly encourage all readers of the WSWS and supporters of the SEP to attend.

For further information contact the Socialist Equality Party: Email: sep@sep.org.au Phone: 02 9790 3511 Mail: PO Box 367, Bankstown, NSW 1885

SYDNEY
Tuesday, November 22, 7.00 p.m.
University of Technology, Sydney
The UTS Tower Building
Building 1, Level 4 (Broadway Street Level), Room 406
Broadway

MELBOURNE
Tuesday November 29, 7.30 p.m.
YWCA
Rooms 3 & 4, First floor
489 Elizabeth Street
Melbourne (near Victoria Market)

Tickets: $4/$2 concession