It's no surprise inequality, in Australia, has been rising gradually since 1982, "Inequality warning on budget", Sunday Age (11/5). The growth of the internationally recognised Gini index (an index that measures inequality) from .27 in the early years of the Hawke government to .33 today is directly linked to the deregulation, privatisation, globalisation and corporatisation revolution launched by the Hawke led Labor government in 1982 and carried forward by every Federal government during the last 32 years.
The latter part of the 19th century and most of the 20th century, in Australia, was characterised by social and political movements that radically altered the traditional role of the state from an agent of social control to an agent of egalitarian social change.
In 1982 the role of parliament, as an agent of egalitarian social transformation, was usurped by unaccountable corporations whose major responsibility was to make ever increasing profits for their major shareholders irrespective of the national, human, social and environmental costs. Parliamentarian's unwillingness and inability to put the interests of the people they represent and the nation as a whole before the interests of unaccountable corporations, will increase inequality in Australia.
Increasing inequality will, sooner or later, create social conditions that will force an increasing number of Australians into the arms of organisations that have eschewed the ballot box in favour of direct action – strikes, protest, occupations and demonstrations to ensure all Australians, not just the rich and powerful, have access to the common wealth of this country.
Dr. Joseph TOSCANO / Spokesperson / Anarchist Media Institute
Level 1/21 Smith Street, Fitzroy VIC 3065
Tel: 0439 395 489