Australian Communist Party - Victoria

Victoria Says No to Racism

On Saturday the 13th of September, activists, antifascists and unionists marched in support of our First Nations and migrant friends and families in light of recent attacks by racists.

The showing on the day was emblematic of the strength of solidarity in the face of ignorant bigotry. At the same time, it showed us the importance of organising outside of marches and actions in the city.

With racist and fascist rhetoric escalating, its important to build connections and talk and listen to your neighbours, family and friends. Bigots want to twist anxiety about migration into anti-immigrant hate. Anti immigrant flogs like to go for low blows - we need to beat them to the punch!

The Victorian government has declared it's newest targets in its campaign to demolish public housing. Existing public housing is being intentionally neglected, and what new 'social housing' is built is handed over to private management.

Homes vic has begun to relocation for residents at:
259 Malvern Road, South Yarra
139 Highett Street, Richmond
111, 119 and 127 Elizabeth Street, Richmond
6 and 8 Anderson Court, Richmond
1–5, 7 and 9 Williams Court, Richmond

https://www.homes.vic.gov.au/high-rise-victoria

STATEMENT IN RESPONSE TO THE RECENT EPISODE OF POLICE VIOLENCE ON DISRUPT LAND FORCES DEMONSTRATORS

The ACP expresses solidarity with the people affected by the indiscriminate violence of the Victorian Police violence during the disrupt Land Forces protests.
Over the past week, anti-war protestors have attempted to disrupt the Land Forces weapons expo – the largest meeting of arms dealers in Australia.

In preparation, police declared the Exhibition Centre a designated area and received draconian special powers. This included powers to search any person or vehicle and issue move on orders to anyone near the event. These powers were legislated under anti-terrorism laws, which police now use to target anti-war protestors.

The justification - an estimated attendance of 25,000 protestors, a number parroted endlessly by media. The actual number was closer to 1200-1500, but police overreach will not be questioned in the media. The foghorn of the ruling class now blares misinformation about ‘violent protestors’ over clips of police pepper spraying anything that moves.

Estimates place the number of protestors casualties at 50-100 with some needing surgery. The police report approximately 40 cops injured, although how much of that number is coppers who choked on their own reckless use of pepper spray is unclear.

The capitalist class decides what is acceptable according to what suits them. Police violence is always deemed acceptable, and any protest against ‘business as usual’ is abhorred. The liberal application of force is unchallenged. In the words of a Port Phillip councillor: “Protest is a right, no doubt, but not at the cost of our hard-working local businesses...”

Capitalists chase profits and war is a profitable industry. Our ‘right to protest’ is no obstacle if the working class is scattered and disorganised. We condemn the Victorian government and the excessive, disproportionate violence of their attack dogs.

Labor in Name, Bosses in Action - Say No to Administration!

The recent passage of the Fair Work (Registered Organisations) Amendment (Administration) Bill 2024 marks a critical juncture in the history of Australia’s labour movement. This legislation which places the Construction and General Division of the Construction, Forestry, Maritime, and Employees’ Union under direct government control, is a profound attack on union autonomy and workers’ democratic rights.

The bill grants extraordinary powers to a government appointed administrator, who can suspend or remove union officials, terminate employees, and alter the union’s internal rules without the usual requirements of due process or member consultation. The ability to declare union offices vacant and bar individuals from holding office or serving as bargaining representatives without a fair hearing is a draconian measure that effectively disenfranchises union members and any power that they have built up. Critically, the bill’s provisions could set a dangerous precedent for all registered organisations in Australia.

The government’s ability to override union rules and the Fair Work Act itself demonstrates an alarming overreach that threatens the fundamental principles of freedom of association and the right to self-governance within the labour movement. Historically, unions have played a vital role in advocating for workers’ rights, from securing wages and safe working conditions to fighting for broader working-class issues.

Unions, their members, and all who value democratic freedoms must resist this legislation and work to restore the balance of power that allows unions to function as independent advocates for workers. The future of unionism in Australia depends on our ability to stand up against these dictatorial powers and defend the rights that have been hard-won over generations.

Head to our website to read more about the significance of this amendment, the ALP’s anti-union past, and how to get involved in the defence of the union movement.

**kthealp

🇵🇸✊ Join us for a film screening of ‘Off Frame Aka Revolution Until Victory’ hosted by the Australian Communist Party.

This film ‘offers a panoramic view of the modern history of Palestine through the unseen lenses of unsung protagonists. Mohanad Yaqubi’s long-awaited feature debut presents a rapid, non-didactic visual history carefully assembled over seven years of research in archives Paris, Rome, London, Amman and Beirut. Off Frame AKA Revolution Until Victory is a sensory parade of images both new and familiar, of moments of great historical rupture and quiet privacies that, together, present an original and subjective visual narrative that invites the viewer to consider both what is in and out of the picture.’ - Omar Robert Hamilton

The event will start at 6pm with the film to begin at 7pm. Snacks & Drinks will be provided for all attendees. Proceeds from the film will go towards covering the costs of hosting this event and to directly support out comrades in the youth wing of the Palestinian Communist Party. 

No one will be turned away due to a lack of funds. Please contact us at or 0480 039 002 for an alternate ticket.

Looking forward to seeing you there - all power the people! Revolution until victory!

Get your tickets today at https://events.humanitix.com/acp-film-screening-off-frame?hxchl=hex-qrc&hxref=slt

STATEMENT IN RESPONSE TO THE RECENT EPISODE OF POLICE VIOLENCE ON FREE PALESTINE RALLY DEMONSTRATORS

The ACP expresses solidarity and support to the people affected by the violence of Victoria Police during last Sunday's rally.

Last weekend, protestors marched in the streets of Melbourne, in opposition to the Australian government's continued support of the Zionist Apartheid regime and the genocide it's carrying out against the Palestinian people.
Demonstrators grieved the recent Nuseirat camp massacre and commemorated the anniversary of the Naksa.
People exercising their right to protest were pepper-sprayed by police.
According to witnesses, more than 30 people were sprayed: including children as young as 5, a pregnant woman and elderly people.
Police claim they were managing an 'extremely hostile' crowd.

The consistency and determination of the Free Palestine movement poses an obvious threat to the Australian Government's position and its support for Israel's settler-colonial violence.

The ruling capitalist class decides what is 'legitimate' according to what suits them.
The capitalist government decides that it is legal to sell weapons for an ongoing genocide, but it is illegal to throw paint on their offices, and the police enforce these laws with violence.
Ultimately, both the government and police serve the interests of the capitalist class.
As demonstrators disrupt business-as-usual and threaten profits, police repression will escalate.
Police will continue to try to intimidate and harass these protests and will look for any excuse to crack down.

We condemn all those who carry out and who support this constant repression. Solidarity to the people who, despite continuous attacks, refuse to be intimidated and persist to struggle for a free Palestine!

Union Organising Workshop
The Australian Communist Party Victoria is holding an open workshop session for people to learn about how to unionise and organise in their workplace.

Come on down to NIBS to hear from experienced union organisers on some of the key areas of building union power, including:
Organising conversations
Workplace Health and Safety - rights and powers
Building power within and across workplaces
Workplace mapping and engagement
Campaign building and more

Date and Time: 12:00pm - 2:00pm Saturday the 15th of June

Location: New Internal Bookshop
Trades Hall, 54 Victoria Street Carlton

🎶 🎸Come down to on the 19th of May for Red-Aid sound stage, a CUDL fundraiser music gig!

42A Albert Street, Footscray VIC 3011

⚡️We will have exciting performances by , , & Joseph Tafra from 5-10pm. If you like all the good work we are doing and want to support us, this is the perfect opportunity to do so while meeting our community & enjoying some great music.

💃 All funds from the event will go towards supporting CUDL Melbourne’s work. $15 pre-sale tickets will be available until 11:55pm on the 12th of May, after that tickets will be $20.

🫶🏻 No one will be turned back for a lack of funds! Please contact us at 0480 039 002 if you’d like to arrange an alternative ticket

🎟 Tickets are available through this link https://events.humanitix.com/red-aid-sound-stage

📽️🎞️ Join us for a film screening of ‘Amongst Equals’ by Tom Zubrycki at 7pm on the 14th of May at the New International Bookshop Carlton.

Amongst Equals is a feature documentary about the trade union movement in Australia released in controversial circumstances by the filmmaker. The film takes an oral history approach and includes interviews with unionists and historians.

Snacks & Drinks will be provided!

🎟👇 Get your tickets through the link below

https://events.humanitix.com/amongst-equals-film-screening

✊ On this day, we celebrate Labour Day, a commemoration of the Victorian Stonemasons winning the 8 hour work day on the 21st of April 1856.

Years after, this day was celebrated as the 8 hour day, in commemorating the struggles of the trade unionists and workers of the past, people would march through the streets annually to celebrate this victory. Although there were similar marches in Sydney, the difference between these two campaigns were that the Victorian Stonemasons won the 8 hour day without a loss of pay, while workers in NSW suffered a reduction in pay. Marches were held on May 12th to celebrate the success of the Stonemason’s protest. In 1934 it was renamed as Labour Day.

Eventually, in 1955 Moomba replaced the marches, celebrating the victory of workers in the Eight Hour Day campaign. Although it is unclear why Labour Day is specifically on the 2nd Monday of March in Victoria, it is worthwhile using this public holiday to remember and celebrate the victories of the Eight Hour Day campaign as well as many other worker’s movements.

Happy Labour Day Comrades!! If you have today off remember that you have the unions and comrades before us to thank for today. We must not take the victories of the past for granted, with the current cost of living crisis, during a time when corporate profits are at an all time high it is of monumental importance that we get organised and fight back. Make sure to be active members of your union and if you’re up for it take the next step & join the party!

“Mourn the dead, fight like hell for the living”

✊🏠 Come & join us this Sunday the 25th of feb from 10am-2pm at Kathleen Syme library for a conversation and housing campaign training session!

We will be running a conversation training workshop which will teach you to engage with people about the right to public and accessable housing for all. Come along to engage, ask any questions about the party and it’s activities, and learn new ways to reach people about this issue that every worker faces in this day and age.

Come and join us at the Invasion day rally this Friday on the 26th of January ✊

We will be meeting at 9:30am at Gordon Reserve to join the rally at parliament at 10am.

What is currently known as ‘Australia Day’ is considered a deeply traumatic day of mourning for Aboriginal, Torres Strait islander and Tiwi Islander peoples.

The European invasion and colonial occupation of Australia has wrought devastation on the Indigenous people of the continent and surrounding Islands. Australia’s economic “success” would have been impossible without the hyper-exploitation of Indigenous people, which occurred through land theft, wage theft, and a violation of their human rights.

How can we celebrate Australia Day while most of those who built Australia’s wealth live landless and in poverty on the continent where their ancestors thrived for over 65,000 years?

The struggle for the liberation of First Nations people is an integral part in the struggle for the liberation of all workers and oppressed people in the world. Join us along with thousands of activists as we demand the end to this abhorrent day and to hold the government accountable for their unforgivable treatment of First Nations people.