Fifty people attended Hobart branch’s July 3 forum titled “Save Medicare! Save Public Education! Reject Howard’s War Budget!”
Jo Fox (NTEU) and Mike Poate (AEU) spoke on the education issue, and Frank Nicklason (Royal Hobart Hospital) spoke about Medicare. Perhaps the most passionate speech was from Anti-Discrimination Commissioner Jocelynne Scutt, and Peter Baker from the Alliance spoke about a much-needed alternative budget.
We put a lot of effort into building the forum, including sending publicity to every school and major medical clinic, and networking with a wide range of other groups including trade unions, TasCOSS, Division of General Practice, Anglicare, Colony 47, and Parents and Friends Associations.
Unfortunately, there wasn’t a lot of energy for organising an ongoing campaign, but the forum at least expressed the widespread community opposition to the federal government’s priorities, and that sentiment — “Save Medicare! Save Public Education!” — continues to be broadcast via our big, bold posters still pasted-up around Hobart.