Radical Perth, Militant Fremantle
Edited by Charlie Fox, Bobbie Oliver & Lenore Layman
Black Swan Press
Curtin University, 2017
283 pages, $30.00
When we think of Western Australia, we generally do not think about left-wing politics or radical actions. WA鈥檚 unique history, demographic, natural resources and generally prosperous economic conditions had always shaped a strong sense of a place not especially inclined to serious challenges to the status quo.
Such, in particular, is the reputation of its capital Perth 鈥 at least compared to eastern Australia.
The recent release of a series of 鈥淩adical鈥 books looking at often untold 鈥渞adical histories鈥 of Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney, and Newcastle have prompted local left-leaning historians to question whether there was scope to produce one for Perth as well.
This was a challenging undertaking from the get-go. Local historians who had come up with this idea were discouraged by the common sentiment that there just wouldn鈥檛 be enough material for such a book.
But the historians were undeterred and undertook the mammoth undertaking of gathering a collection of historical accounts.
Leading the charge were three historians with a suite of research accolades under their belt. Charlie Fox was a historical researcher at the University of Western Australia until his retirement in 2011; Bobbie Oliver is an Associate Professor at Curtin University, with specific interests in Australian and labour history; while Lenore Layman is a Western Australian historian as well as an Associate Professor at Murdoch University.
These three editors invited interested members of the public to contribute to the project. The final product showcases work from a dozen contributors with distinct writing styles and historical specialties.
With the myriad of contributors coming from different left-wing backgrounds, the essays cover very diverse struggles. These include: workers鈥 rights; women鈥檚 liberation; LGBTI rights, Aboriginal struggles; anti-racism; environmental campaigns and opposition to various wars and militarism.
The stories show how the struggles from the past have had a considerable influence on similar events today. For example, the fact that the May Day rally in Fremantle is the biggest annual event in the modern-day radical Perth calendar can be appreciated more richly after reading the chapter, 鈥淭he Workers鈥 Day? May Day in Perth and Fremantle鈥. It provides background to how and why this event was able to grow to the extent it has today.
The book also gives an insight into how and why some unions have developed as more militant and radical than others. For example, the article 鈥淲ar on the Waterfront: The 1998 MUA dispute鈥 demonstrates the battle between the Maritime Union of Australia and the federal government after the government鈥檚 full-scale assault on the union and the maritime workforce.
Some of the articles highlight the importance of solidarity from across different sectors of society. For example, in 鈥淎ustralia鈥檚 First Urban Land Rights Campaign: Goonininup versus the Old Swan Brewery鈥, which is known informally as Australia鈥檚 first urban land rights campaign, several unions got behind the cause. This helped prolong the campaign.
Conversely, and tragically, when the unions were pressured to stop offering their support, the campaign ultimately failed.
Two other chapters from the book that emphasise solidarity are 鈥淪olidarity Park: the Workers鈥 Embassy鈥 and 鈥淥ccupy Perth鈥. 鈥淪olidarity Park鈥 looks at the area next to the state parliament that was occupied by unionists and supporters in 1997 as part of the campaign against anti-union laws.
鈥淥ccupy Perth鈥, on the other hand, was a much more recent affair when many different activist groups came together in 2011 to challenge the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting and send a message that it was not okay for a minority to hoard the majority of the world鈥檚 wealth. It was, more than anything, a richly symbolic gesture of solidarity.
The authors employ the terms 鈥渞adical鈥 and 鈥渕ilitant鈥, which appear in the title, in a flexible fashion, taking into account the context of the time and communities involved. Two examples described in the book are the battles by the Chung Wah Chinese Association and the Women Against Nuclear Tests group.
The approach and actions of these groups might not be perceived as 鈥渞adical鈥 in the way many on the left might define it, but both were radical in the context of that time.
The book also covers less explicitly political movements, such as the 鈥淪nake Pit鈥 鈥 a place where young people congregated to dance and enjoy contemporary music. As harmless as it sounds, authorities shut it down in the early 鈥60s, as it was perceived to be a sign of rebellion.
Another example from an unexpected direction is the chapter titled 鈥淭he Red Dean, the Sixties and Perth鈥檚 Rock Masses鈥. This describes the progressive rock events that took place in the late 1960s and early 鈥70s at St Georges鈥 Cathedral, of all places.
Other broader social issues and phenomena are looked at, including a chapter about a non-profit farm and community garden, titled 鈥淗ope in the Wasteland: East Perth鈥檚 City Farm鈥. Another chapter looks at Perth鈥檚 mental health facilities, titled 鈥淐losing the Asylums: De-institutionalization in Perth鈥.
One thing that stands out in all the chapters is the author鈥檚 honesty, as well as the personal insights provided. Most do not shy away from critiquing strategies and tactics used in the stories they depict.
The stories often describe how traditional left-wing activities such as protests, picket lines and rallies were used in conjunction with other tactics, such as petitioning and fighting on legal grounds.
The book focuses on the often intense and radical struggles from the past. With disturbing developments internationally and worsening inequality and other attacks of various sectors in this country, we can expect new struggles in Perth and Fremantle to develop and thrive.