Why no petrol blockades in Oz?

[Gary MacLennan <g.maclennan@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I have been enthusiastic about the petrol blockades in the UK.   However
that does not mean that I do not take account of the class character  of
those who participated in the blockades in England. However class origin is
not the same as class trajectory.

My support for the blockades was based on the fact that they were
challenging the state.

Own has however quite correctly pointed out the support fro the actions of
the lorry drivers from the police etc.

The thought has also occurred to me - why hasn't similar action spread to
Australia?  Here petrol prices are heading ever upwards and there is little
hope that they will fall while the dollar remain so vulnerable in the
currency markets.

The answer must be surely that there is a missing ingredient - a
labor/social democratic government. The right wing Howard government may be
betraying the middle class but they are reluctant to confront it directly
on the streets.

If Labor had been in power I have no doubt that the reactionary radio talk
host jockeys would have had a massive wave of protest underway by now. Mind
you having said that I would not take to the defence of the Australian
Labor Party, at least not over the essential question of the burden of
indirect taxation.

regards

Gary