- The Guardian
- Issue #2121
CENTRAL COMMITTEE MESSAGE
After the acknowledgement that the Conference was taking place on unceded Kaurna land, proceedings opened with a message from the Party President, Comrade Vinnie Molina, on behalf of the Central Committee, wishing “all comrades in South Australia a successful and productive State Conference.”
The message drew attention to “some positive outcomes since the 14th Congress held in February 2022,” especially to “growth across party centres with many young men and women joining the struggle for socialism and a better future.” This has certainly been reflected in South Australia
Party participation in rallies supporting a free and independent Palestinian state and opposing the genocidal war in the Middle East, and in protests against the government takeover of the CFMEU construction and general division, were key Party actions mentioned in the President’s message.
FIDEL’S – A TRUE PARTY ASSET
Fidel’s has become a valuable Party asset for conferences, meetings, musical and “open mic” events. It also houses the Workers’ Library, a repository of valuable Party documents, and great reading. Fidel’s underscores the important social and political relationship the Party has with the Port Adelaide United Workers’ Club that also manages the Semaphore Workers’ Club, a popular musical venue and outreach to the wider community.
Branch reports highlighted the valuable work being achieved regarding Party education and the development of reading groups
Reports on solidarity work focused on Cuba. The 40th National Consultation of the Australia Cuba Friendship Society will be held in Adelaide in 2025.
Letters of acknowledgement were given to elder comrades for outstanding service: Beryl Miller for decades of service to the Party, particularly in selling the Guardian and standing up for women’s rights, and Len Lean who still produces Fight Back on behalf of the Party, dedicated to environmental and health issues. Len’s generous donations have greatly helped the Party, notably the purchase of our bold anti-AUKUS banner.
POST-CONFERENCE SOCIAL EVENT
The Conference closed with a rousing chorus of the Internationale, followed by a social gathering involving Party friends and representatives of progressive organisations. Speakers included the SA party secretary who introduced the theme of how just a few dedicated comrades can make a difference in the fight against fascism and capitalist-imperialism. He highlighted the link between the state repression of the CFMEU, anti-protest laws, the jailing of protesters waving flags of Lebanese resistance and the ongoing conflicts in Ukraine and the middle-east as well as the ongoing state-propaganda against China and the DPRK.
The spokesman for the Australian Friends of Palestine Association, explained how many SA people had lost family members in Gaza. Explaining how the media conveniently chooses the starting point of crises such we have today in the Ukraine or the Middle East so that the real unpalatable causes of conflict are overlooked, he emphasised that the slaughter has been enabled by the United States.
The event concluded with a screening of the 2012 movie Comrade Kim Goes Flying, a light-hearted film created jointly by individuals from the UK, Belgium, and the DPRK about a North Korean miner who dreams of becoming an acrobat. A relaxing way to end a long and successful 27th South Australian State Conference.
As an outcome of the 27th State Conference, comrades can look optimistically to a stronger state Party working to forge a socialist future for South Australia.
