The Big Issues

Union polling of MUA members in key marginals has found that maritime workers are voting job security, health and education as the top issues this election.

This reflects ACTU polling across industries were working families all ticked health and education when asked how they would vote.

This special election issue of the Maritime Workers' Journal looks at the big issues -- job security-- how you're job will be affected by the outcome of the federal election, health and education.

We've asked the experts -- working men and women, seafarers and stevedoring workers, port workers and their families -- teachers and nurses, parents and politicians.

MUA delegates debated the election strategy before voting to back Labor at the National Conference in March. Conference is our peak policy making body and the decision was endorsed unanimously at national stopwork meetings held around the ports in April.

Union polling in key marginals has confirmed that the vast majority of members support Labor -- as high 90 per cent in some areas.

This is much higher that the average 60-70 per cent of union members voting Labor in the marginals polled by the ACTU.

So find out what MUA activists are doing on the ground to help ALP candidates in the key marginal seats and how you can help secure your job, your future and the future of your children on October 9.

Why Vote Labor?

This is an anti worker government (remember Patrick? The Yarra?) It is continually attacking unions and organised labour. The Howard Government promotes an individual system of employment.

Members are reminded of what the Howard Government has attempted to do to our industry from the attempt to sack the entire unionised workforce that began with the criminal conspiracy against us with the Patrick lockout, to the wholesale attempted dismantling of the coastal shipping trade and the support for guest foreign workers to replace Australian seafarers working in their own territory.

"Under a Howard Government there is no support for Australian shipping," said National Secretary Paddy Crumlin. "His government has continually refused to recognise the Australian shipping industry and has gone about seeing to its destruction."

"You just can't trust John Howard," said Deputy National Secretary Jim Tannock. "The hotly debated open letter about honesty in government from a group of 43 former service chiefs and Australian diplomats proves this. Concern about terrorism after September 11 had been diverted to justify the invasion and occupation of Iraq. But the Howard Government knew all along there were no weapons of mass destruction in Iraq and that, as a result of Australia's involvement we are now a bigger terrorist target than ever."

"Australian intelligence warned that damage is being done to relations with our Asian neighbours and with the nations of the South West Pacific," said Assistant National Secretary Mick Doleman.

"On the home front Howard has also done enormous damage to our social mechanisms. He has attacked Medicare, has virtually wiped out the free education system set up by previous Labor governments. As well he has overturned the previous advances in recognising equality for our indigenous people," said Assistant National Secretary Rick Newlyn.

MUA Poll Results

ACTU Member Connect polling of 357 MUA members in QUEENSLAND marginals found 85 per cent were Labor voters, only 1 per cent Liberal/National and 7 per cent swinging voters. Swinging voters will get follow up calls and information posted to them on the issues they said were most important to them.

Top of the list of issues voted important by members polled were work (23 per cent) and health (20 per cent).

"Education was another important issue with 81 per cent of members saying they thought too much money went to wealthy elite private schools and too little funding went to government schools. As well 69 per cent were concerned with the increased cost of higher education," said Mick Carr.

In VICTORIA: the branch polled 69 members in marginal seats. Of these 54 (90 per cent) said they voted Labor, 15 were swinging voters, (seven of whom favoured Labor, six were undecided) and two confessed voting for the conservatives.

Branch Secretary Kevin Bracken reports that members chose health, industrial relations and education as the top issues.

In SOUTH AUSTRALIA, Jake Field, Hon. Deputy Branch Secretary reports the breakdown of members already surveyed in two of the three marginal seats is as follows:

In the marginal seat of Makin the branch identified 65 members and survived 26 as at September 17. Of these 20 said they voted Labor and six were either Liberal or swinging voters.

In the marginal seat of Hindmarsh: the branch identified 134 MUA members and surveyed 27. Of these 20 were Labor and seven were either Liberal or swinging voters.

In WA Branch secretary Chris Cain and Deputy Branch Secretary Keith McCorriston report Kim Young, ALP (Moore) spoke at the August monthly meeting and it is planned for other ALP candidates will be invited at the next meeting.

The Activist committee have targeted the seat of Stirling in the past two weeks with letterbox deliveries in most areas. Other electorates will be targeted in the next two weeks.

A membership survey of MUA members in Stirling found that the main issues that concern members are the cost of living, job security, health, education, tax/ and interest rates.

Of the 50 members surveyed in this electorate, the majority voted Labor or Green, with 2 per cent voting Liberal.

Polling was still under way as MWJ went to press.

What Members are Doing

The MUA has prepared our traditional material which includes the $10 dollar look alike note (worth $0) depicting John Howard as having zero knowledge about his lies and deception targeted at the Australian people and in particular the MUA.

One million of these notes have been printed and distributed among branches to hand out at shopping centres etc in key marginals.

The note also raises the issues of children over board, Single Voyage Permits, no inspection of empty containers, children in detention, governments attacks on the health system, Costello standing by to take over the PMs job after the election and a range of other matters intended to remind the public of this governments appalling record.

Activists are also distributing ALP 'a vote for Howard is a vote for Costello' scratchies around the marginals.

In Sydney Branch Secretary Robert Coombs reports the response from members has been overwhelming.

"We've had 50 members put their hands up to get involved int eh campaign and we've raised $15,000," he said.

"The branch has made the election of a Labor Government its no 1 priority," he said. "We only need a swing of around 1.7 per cent in six marginal Liberal seats."

In Tasmania Branch Secretary Mick Wickham reports that members on the Spirit of Tasmania I have donated $1,000 to the campaign. "We're giving everything to Michelle O'Byrne we can," he said. "She's on the parliamentary shipping committee and she's bee doing everything she can for us."

Meanwhile the MUA has joined with other unions in paying for radio advertising over the last weeks leading up to polling day.

By now all branches should be including the ACTU model of local campaigning designed to identify our own members living in targeted seats who could be swinging voters. The results of this election will be very close and the MUA agrees that by each union polling and campaigning among their members we could deliver a positive result.

The MUA website has a front page link to the special campaign site which is playing an active role in attacking the Howard Government and providing valuable resources to activists. All activists and members are urged to contact their branches and to participate in all activities aimed at electing a Labor government.

Know a swinging voter? Have a beer with your undecided mate at the local pub and make sure they understand the damage Howard's doing.

Keep up to date with the MUA election campaign. Go to our campaign website http://www.muacampaign.org.au/