Today's protest photos Melbourne/Sydney!

[foreigncorrespondent]

Melbourne:










http://www.theage.com.au/ffximage/2005/11/15/protest_gallery__470x313,0.jpg

http://www.theage.com.au/ffximage/2005/11/15/rally_gallery__470x332,0.jpg


Sydney
















That's all I could find for now. If I find more I will post them.

With the turnouts, just who the hell does Howard think he is fooling with his "IR is betterfor all" bullshit?

[Matilda]

1. Hey, thanks for those, especially Melbourne - looks fantastic.

Doesn't it do your heart good? Especially when you know a lot of
people were bullied and intimidated into not going.

They can try to talk it down, but it looks like a success to me!

[foreigncorrespondent]

2. Mate...

...when I saw the overhead shots of Melbourne, it truly brought tears to my eyes.

As for talking it down they are already doing it. But fine, let them. The pictures speak thousands times louder than their pissy little words ever could.

[Violet_Crumble]

3. You just don't get it!

Didn't you hear that person from some Chamber of Commerce or whatever it was? He said that millions of Australian workers stayed at work and that means that they support the new IR laws. That's why the ACTU should consider it's next bit of action to be a 'Work-In'. Everybody stays at work and that would show opposition to the new IR laws. I'm betting there'd be close to 100% attendance for that one...

If neither of you got to go, here's a link to the really funny thing that John Clarke and Bryan Dawe did

http://www.rightsatwork.com.au/campaigns/november15

In Canberra I've been told that John Stanhope gave ACT public servants leave to attend and encouraged them to go. That's a marked contrast to the emailed warnings that most of us Commonwealth public servants got....

Violet...

[foreigncorrespondent]

4. Trust me mate, I do get it!

I know what is being said. I know Howard said today that despite the protests yesterday he still intends to push forward with the IR and get it passed.

The reason so many stayed at home was because the blatant threat received by millions of workers. Not many people are able to organize leave on short notice. Not many people have the funds to cover the huge fines they would face. The government may think it has won, but it really hasn't.

Yesterdays protests are just the beginning. For the next ex amount of years that Howard is in charge things are going to be tough, and restless, and we are going to be witness (and probably participating in) a hell of a lot of protests.

What the IR bullshit signals to me is the slow demise of the Liberal party in Australia for quite a number of years.

It is easy for us to say people forget. But when the majority of people have no family life (due to the ridiculous work schedules they have to keep) they won't forget so easily. Come next election I don't think it will be a question of who the ALP is running, I truly believe the ALP is a sure fire thing.

Howard and the4 Liberals have been showing just how dirty they are. Putting a gag order on this in the house? Not allowing enough time for the Senate inquiry to reach a good sound result? Howard is showing he does not give a shit about the workers of this country. What he forgets is, without the workers there isn't going to be a country. It is us who truly holds the power. Once we realize that their petty threats are shit compared to the amount of money we can cost companies Australia wide, that is when we will truly hold all the power and all the bargaining chips.

I do agree with you about the work in though.

By the way, I gotta interview tomorrow for a work for the dole thing. Do you think I will be forced to sign an AWA for the dole? ;)

[PinkUnicorn]

5. Canberra...

Canberra public servants were given paid leave time to attend for the official times of the rally 8:30-10:30 provided no critical services were disrupted.

The Commerce and Industry chief exec (Chris Peters) whined that Stanhope's decision would cost Canberra about $2.3 million. Rather amusing since the Feds have blown $40+ million on advertising.

[Sapphocrat]

8. Funny, you seem to be...

...of two minds on the subject, VC. I think I recall you saying you realized this was only the first in a long line of protests... so I hope you're feeling more positive about it now.

Baby steps, baby steps... And this was one HUGE baby step! Kudos to Oz!:thumbsup::thumbsup::thumbsup:

[Violet_Crumble]

9. I'm not in two minds about anything to do with this...

I know exactly how I feel, and I feel more strongly about it than I have about anything much recently. I think my attempt at taking the piss out of the 'logic' used by that chamber of commerce wanker might have come across a bit clumsily :)

Violet...

[Sapphocrat]

6. THAT...

...brought tears to my eyes, too. Especially Melbourne.

I wanna wear a Eureka Stockade flag as a cape too! :D

Aussie, Aussie, Aussie! Oy, oy, oy!
:toast:

[foreigncorrespondent]

7. Ok...

...I will get you a large flag so you can. :)