The biggest and most representative open organising meeting of the Melbourne far-left in 15 years, is how the 7 September meeting was described by its indefatigable chair.

One hundred and fifty people representing the main socialist, anarchist and other far-left organisations in Melbourne met to organise the local response to the new wave of racist, far-right mobilising and spate of attacks on Indigenous people and migrants.

The coalition efficiently set in motion all the key organising for a broad, united street action on September 13 as part of the planned National Day of Action to counter racist and fascist politics and violence. Discussion was characterised by widespread good will among the various groups. Several activists told Red Spark the meeting enabled a step forward in left cooperation and unity.

The joint statement is below.

Energetic support seems also to be rippling through left social media as news gets around about the broadly representative nature of the meeting.

A key aim, if possible, is to out mobilise the far-right on September 13 – i.e. to defeat it in size. This will be a sweet victory if it can be achieved. There is also preparations to out-shine the assorted racists by staging a well prepared, organised and unified anti-racist action. The anti-racist left will also put forward more coherent solutions to the pressures that working people face – such as the housing crisis. In any event, the racists have no prospect of an uncontested day out 13 September.

An additional motion was passed to organise another, less hastily prepared, meeting after September 13 to further consolidate an anti-racist “united front” to meet the rising threat of far-right political organising and violence in the medium term. Like all key business of the meeting, this was passed unanimously.

Anti-Fascist Organising Statement

Last Sunday in Melbourne, the far-right and neo-Nazis mobilised thousands in marches that attacked migrants, the Palestine movement, antifascists and people in Kuffiyehs. The day ended in a disgraceful attack on Camp Sovereignty, leaving people badly injured and parts of the protest camp trashed.

We are initiating a broad antifascist and anti-racist united front to ensure the events of last Sunday are not repeated.

We are united by a shared understanding that the working class have a common interest in opposing fascism in all its forms.

We call for maximum unity and collaboration to give First Nations peoples, the left, unions, migrant communities, and all anti-racists the best chance at stopping the far right threat before it grows out of control.

We also call for no collaboration with the police. The police uphold the far-right and the white supremacist foundations of so-called “Australia”.

The best way to defend possible victims of the fascists is to drive them off the streets through mass, militant, working class action.

We will start by opposing their planned action at Parliament on September 13. We will march to meet the far-right rally at Parliament, and if our forces are strong enough, prevent them from marching.