The Communist League announced May 2 it is running Marnie Kennedy in the by-elections in Blaxland. Kennedy, 27, is a production worker at the F. Muller plant, a member of the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union, and the Young Socialists. The following is the Communist League's announcement of its election campaign.

"The Coalition government has announced plans to accelerate attacks on working conditions, union rights and our social wage. Prime Minister Howard's proposals will deepen a course already begun under Labor, a course to force more of the burden of the capitalist economic crisis onto the backs of working people and the oppressed," said Kennedy.

"What the employers and their government accomplish remains to be seen. The strikers at Weipa and Vickery showed CRA that union busting will meet powerful resistance. And just last week NSW teachers, 10,000 strong, marched to state parliament to press their wage demands.

"Our campaign rejects the nationalist framework of the Labor, Liberal, Democrat, and Green candidates. We reject Australian chauvinism, like Buy Australia campaigns. We identify with the struggles of the oppressed and exploited against the increasingly brutal assault by the wealthy minority the world over.

"We support an international union-led struggle for `Jobs for all!' with the demand to shorten the workweek with no cut in pay to spread the available work around and for a massive publics works program to put millions to work building much-needed housing, schools, hospitals, and roads.

"We favor affirmative action for women and oppressed nationalities in education, housing, and employment, and oppose racist attacks. We support Aboriginal land rights and condemn Black deaths in custody. We oppose attacks on immigrants, like the proposed welfare cuts. The government's scapegoating of immigrants and Aboriginals gives the green light to openly right-wing racist demagogues like Pauline Hansen and Bob Katter.

"As a working-class alternative in the elections, our campaign stands for independence for East Timor, West Papua, and Bougainville. We oppose the continued embargo of Iraq, which Canberra's warship helps enforce. Our campaign joined the thousands who marched through Sydney's streets on April 20 condemning Israel's terror campaign against Lebanon.

"Last summer I participated in the Cuba Lives Festival hosted by the Cuban Union of Young Communists. Over one thousand young people came to Cuba from 66 countries. We discussed the conditions facing young people and workers in today's world marked by economic depression and the drive toward fascism and war.

"Revolutionary Cuba is a real example that my campaign points to. Working people there built revolutionary organizations, took political power away from the bosses and landlords, and overthrew capitalism. Today they run society in the interests of the vast majority, the workers and farmers," Kennedy said.

"We need to do the same thing here in Australia."  
 
 
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