
Issue No 9		16 April 1999

News

Tanner to Bragg with Billy

Labor frontbencher Lindsay Tanner will talk politics backstage with pop-politics maestro Billy Bragg at his Melbourne concert this week.

Publishers of Tanner's book 'Open Australia', Pluto Press, say the meeting of minds continues a tradition of Bragg meeting with left-leaning political activists when in Australia.

And judging from the former Red Wedge spearhead and Thatcher bogeyman's Sydney press conference this week, the two should have a lot to talk about.

Bragg says the fire in his belly stills burns, despite the end of the Cold War and the challenge is how to apply socialist ideals in an effective way.

"The red flag may not be as significant, but people from the left still have the compassionate ideal; socialism comes from the heart not necessarily from textbooks.

And is pop and politics dead? "maybe the problem is that we're looking for white boys playing guitars"

"Art does still reflect society; if the society is political so will the art; one problem is that we are living an ideological vacuum at present."

But Bragg is not one to bag the Blair Government, although he says he rejects the notion of a 'Third Way' and says there have been things which have disappointed him.

"I think they should call themselves 'Nice Labor' rather than New Labor -- I would like to see them make a few tough calls, rather than making sure people aren't scared by them.

"But you have to remember, Britain didn't vote for socialism, they voted for teachers and nurses.

"While I am disappointed with some of the elements of Thatcherism that they have adopted, they have not been motivated by the same degree of spite. I refuse to become

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Issue 9 contents

Interview: Ms Plibersek Goes To Canberra
The new MP for Sydney talks about her new job, new ideas and why she won�t be writing a book about them.

Unions: More Jobs, Better Pay?
Peter Reith shears the Pastoral Industry Award, making a mockery of his election rhetoric.

History: Work and Community
This is the story of a little corrugated iron factory. In a lane. In Rozelle.

Review: Tailing Out
When BHP left Newcastle steelworks, it also left a rich working culture. A ground-breaking project is now honouring what has been lost.

International: ILO Warns Danger Evolving With Technology
The ILO estimates over 1 million work-related fatalities each year -- and the danger spots are changing.

Labour Review: What's New at the Information Centre
View the latest issue of Labour Review, Labor Council's fortnightly IR newsletter for unions.

» Public Speaks: We Are Not Monsters!

» Qantas to Dump Aussie Accents

» Carr�s Faction Call Music to Costa�s Ears

» But Thumbs Down to Small Business Labor...

» Blow for Reith's Anti-Unionism

» Un-Reconstructed Unionists on Study Tour

» Unionists to Celebrate May Day

» Tanner to Bragg with Billy

» Guest Report

» Sport

» Trades Hall

» Piers Watch

» Social Audit: Where's the Left?

» Piers, Piers, Piers

» Conspiracy of Silence?

» Y2K plus VCR Equals SCAM

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