Over 100,000 workers marched through Melbourne on 30 June in opposition to Prime Minister John Howard's new industrial relations legislation. So large was the turnout that workers were still leaving the starting point at South Carlton Trades Hall, as others arrived at the finishing point over 2 kilometres away.

The half day general strike was called in response to Howard's plan to turn Australia into the world's most deregulated workplace, the first step of which is to introduce far-reaching anti-union legislation. Standing in his way is the powerful Australian trade union movement. In addition to the 100,000 who marched in Melbourne, 20,000 marched in both Perth and Sydney, 15,000 in Brisbane, 10,000 in Victoria and thousands more throughout Australia.

The mood on all these protests was one of anger and defiance, especially from the more militant CFMEU (union of construction, mining and energy workers) and the postal workers who are already in dispute with the government. Whilst the majority of workers clearly understand the wide scale effects the new legislation will have on the future of the trade union movement, no one is under any illusion that the ACTU (Australian Council of Trades Unions) will organise effective action to stop Howard in his tracks. In fact, the ACTU leadership has already conceded defeat on this crucial battle. Greg Combet, ACTU Secretary, claimed "there wasn't much that we could do about it." This attitude is linked to the fact that the trade union leaders, like their counterparts in Ireland North and South, have lost the stomach to fight and favour a partnership approach to deal with workers' grievances. What's more, many trade union leaders actually support many of Howard's right wing policies.

Not only has the ACTU ruled out any form of industrial action, but its biggest threat has been to warn Howard that there will be an electoral backlash in four years time! Contrast that to the call made by the Socialist Party of Australia (sister party of the Socialist Party in Ireland) for a 24-hour general strike that would deal a serious blow to the Liberal governments' plans. Already a poll published in the Sydney Morning Herald showed that Howard's approval ratings have slumped by 10% in the last month.

A series of regional and national general strikes linked to the call for a new workers' party could consolidate and direct the huge anger that exists to Howard's big business agenda into an effective movement to defend and extend workers' rights, wages and conditions.

For the latest news from Australia see the Socialist Party (Australia) website.