Up The Gum Tree

In the latest of a long line of moves towards a totalitarian state, Queensland Premier Johannes Bjelke-Petersen, has decreed that no marches of a political nature may be held in the streets of Brisbane (pop. approx 1,100,000). This fascist decree has come down in response to the growing struggle of Queenslanders (and other Australians) against their repressive Governments and the things they represent.

In particular, Queenslanders have actively opposed in recent years the foreign mining companies theft of Black Australian's land and their mining of Uranium—in conjunction with people such as Bjelke-Petersen, who has shares in some of these companies.

Bjelke-Petersen, a millionaire and former peanut farmer cannot abide those who attack him and his big foreign friends. His response in 1977 is similar to that in 1971 when he declared a week-long "State of Emergency" in Queensland for the duration of the Springboks' visit. Then armed police roamed the streets and public protests were banned—the situation is again the same, only the time-scale indefinite.

Such moves should be a warning to New Zealanders that fascism is at our doorstep; don't forget only 2 weeks ago the same Bjelke-Petersen wined and dined Muldoon at a State Banquet in Brisbane.

So far, the response to Bjelke-Petersen's open fascism has been limited - a large Hilly was held last Wednesday in the main square in Brisbane. Hundreds of students who tried to march to the rally from the University of Queensland were stopped by 12 deep ranks of riot police at the exit gates and not allowed to leave. Before the march was to take place, Bjelke-Petersen warned that the Labour Party leader of the State Opposition, Tom Burns, would face instant arrest if he took part in the march!