by Dave Riley
We've yet to march in our local May Day parade here in Brisbane. No doubt "Comrade" Kevin Rudd and "Comrade" local ALP miscellaneous pollie will be leading the march tomorrow when its moves off from Turbott Street. We do after all bless it here in Queensland with a public holiday.
Last year's march warranted a classic audio grab as Comrade "working class hero" Rudd addressed the troops and promised every one a "fair go'.
The 2007 Labor March: audio
Twelve months on....what with Ruddie in the big house and every state chamber in Labor's hands one has to wonder when this "fair go" is due. In the report I spoke to Margaret Gleason who noted that post poll after we elect Rudd Labor -- Kevin 07! --we are supposed to shut up.
And obediently, that's been the rule. Except...
Yesterday's May Day events in NSW do however offer much . This is the first major revolt within and against the ALP since the 1984 federal ALP conference in Hobart.
While it's is a long time between drinks.... the mood among the organised working class is always tangible at events such as these. You get the Laborism big time but you also get the cynicism in regard to the ALP.
Among the sausage sizzles and free member beer; the music and populist rhetoric -- you can still find the anger and frustration, with a promise of militancy if only...
