March in March 2017:

For All The Things Our Politicians Are(n’t)

Opinion piece about March in March 25/3/17

By Jane Salmon

In 2014 and 2015, March Australia rallies brought people together to express their concerns about the then Prime Minister’s lies to the electorate and the overall LNP/IPA policy agenda including austerity cuts and climate denial.

In all, more than 200,000 people walked with us around the nation and across may events.

Single issue rallies led by parties, unions and other groups also drew on the concerns of ordinary punters who had found their voice within the MA network.

They did it with wit. The Shady Bunch memes, self drawn coloured cartoons and jokes amazed and amused us all.

[insert pics of memes & signs here]

Happily, the LNP subsequently unseated their gaffe-prone leader, Tony Abbott. Abbott ‘s methods, values and crude stratagems polarised but also galvanised Australia.

Sadly, a change of leader is not a change of system. Current Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull seems slightly sleeker and greyer. However, the conservative and religious extremism unleashed by Abbott has retained a life of its own within and around Cabinet.

Almost everything Malcolm Turnbull once claimed to hold dear has been crushed to death under the bear hug of unfettered market forces or shed simply to retain power.

While the front-man was changed, our nation is still stuck with a series of half-baked right wing policies, corrupt political rorts and inefficient government. And Australia now faces the rise of One Nation’s special brand of right wing selfishness, racist obsession and preference manipulation.

Voters waited politely to see whether Trumble could turn it around and regain the upper hand.

We’ve waited enough.

So … after a hiatus to absorb change and recover from the effort of creating our own grassroots movement from scratch, March Australia is back.

Who is March Australia? Well, right now it is calling itself Stand Up Australia and operates under the umbrella of March Australia Activist Interchange which is incorporated in NSW.

Ultimately it is you, the person making a quirky or witty sign and attending a rally. And it is also people like me who are simply unable to stand by and watch the demolition of all we hold dear.

Sick of your well-thought-out values and positive ideas being ignored by major parties or the mainstream media?

Wanting a fairer go for everyone?

If so, YOU are March Australia.

March Australia is resiliently campaigning for long-overlooked values like compassion or jobs in renewable energy.

It is people wanting systemic change to halt corruption.

MA has a memory of what seemed possible for Australia 7 years ago. It also expects far more than any party has yet delivered in Government.

March Australia has had several incarnations since its inception in late 2013.

As with most volunteer-run political groups, movements like March Australia are subject to the vagaries of members’ lives. MA is empowering. Many first time rally coordinators have gone on to host campaigns and web sites for issues dear to their hearts.

At present, MA is a marriage of country and city, of various states and subject to the political and organisational biases of each event coordinator.

Key issues vary each year but reflect a broad progressive agenda. Core topics remain the same.

These include the whole gamut from environmental concerns to fear for civil liberties and human rights. Protecting wages, work conditions and jobs is compatible with a basic income but perhaps not a blanket welfare card. Cuts to public education, public health and steady privatisation sell offs make us angry. Human rights violations and abuse of people detained by government or governments revolt us.

MA draws together a bundle of internet platforms. A few others have withered on the vine.

Different graphic styles reflect the passion and participation of ordinary Aussies. There is no uniform MA “look”. It’s as individual as you. And her. Or him.

March Australia Stand Up Online is a place for those who don’t have a local rally [insert link].

Most of what MA does is independent and self-generated.

It reflects the concerns of participants. Some have more passion than skill.

MA is independent of all political organisations and parties. Sometimes other groups like GetUp have pitched in to spread the word.

That said, the March movement attracts more left, Greens and Labor voters than LNP or One Nation members. New progressive groups are not turned away. It attempts not to be subsumed by older interest groups or those with a less than peaceful agenda.

Effective coordinators are often daunted by the deluge of right wing hate speech they receive and the struggle to create something out of literally nothing. Capital cities come out at their own rates. Support organisations and focus may change.

Occasionally a supporting organisation donates the sound system or some printing … but that’s it. Your self expression IS us.

Participants decide what each rally will cover, not just those inviting speakers.

Feel very welcome to be part of the MA momentum. We continue to seek deep change, provide avenues for self expression and public catharsis.

We hope to see you on the streets this Saturday.

For details visit the March Australia Activist Interchange:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/maainterchange/?rc=

Contacts:
Loz Lawrey
Candace Wirth
[email protected]

Leesa Little
[email protected]
www.marchaustralia.com.au

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=509718952749346&id=100011337378110

Locations:

Rallies will take place in nine locations on Saturday 25th March, as listed below:

ADELAIDE
11.30am – 2.00pm, Victoria Square, Adelaide
https://www.facebook.com/events/1116094631833678/
Contact:
Sarah Pinkie:
[email protected]

ARMIDALE
2.00 – 4.00pm, Central Park Armidale
https://www.facebook.com/events/1406244486114768/
Contact:
Vanessa Peterson
[email protected]

BRISBANE
12.00 – 2.00pm, Queens Gardens, Brisbane
https://www.facebook.com/events/639122642934243/
Contact:
Ewan Saunders
Sally Dodds
Kathryn Wilkes
[email protected]

CAIRNS:
3.00 – 5.00pm, The Lawns, Wharf One, Cairns
https://www.facebook.com/events/1801904816714316/
Contact:
Susan Prince

GOSFORD/CENTRAL COAST:
10.45am – 1.00pm, Carrawah Reserve https://www.facebook.com/events/1815034078770225/
Contact:
Jeff Sundstrom
[email protected]

NEWCASTLE:
1.00 – 4.00pm, Pacific Park, Newcastle
https://www.facebook.com/events/1828092207443751/
Contact: Leigh Shears
[email protected]

SYDNEY :
1.00 – 4.00pm, Belmore Park, Sydney
https://www.facebook.com/events/1535015309856781/
Contact: JessieLee Peacock
[email protected]

Hashtags:
#marchinmarch2017
#StandUpAustralia2017
#Auspol

Extra Internet Platforms for Those Who Cannot Reach Rallies:

www.facebook.com/yourprotestonline

Twitter.com/yrprotestonline
Jane Salmon