Tensions are raging at an all time high amongst refugees, detained by Australian authorities for entering the country illegally in the search for greater prosperity. In the last 12 months the Federal Government have procrastinated on decisions that have serious implications on the future of refugees.

While refugees remain in detention, Australasian Correctional Management with the support of the Howard government continues to mock their existence as human beings. Many refugees have fled their homeland to escape the exact kind of oppression that has been forced upon them by the Australian arm of America's largest private prison operator.

Ironically many refugees are fleeing repressive governments who are backed by imperialist Western countries, Australia included. Refugees at present are served with two doses of repressive policy from authorities. What will be the third dose, 3 strikes and you're dead?

Actions by detainees have escalated recently showing the desperate lengths that refugees are prepared to go to. Some refugees have resorted to suicide attempts, with one of these actions resulting in the death of a man at the Marbynong Detention Centre in Melbourne. Politically the response from both Federal and State governments has been to take a nationalist approach. Refugees have been described as "Queue Jumpers", a threat to national security and a threat to the employment opportunities of Australians.

At present Australia accepts only a small number of refugees. Once granted asylum in Australia many are dumped out into provincial or outer urban areas with a minimal one off payment of $200. Refugees are then told that they should be thankful for what they are getting. Hardly are "Fair Go" in the lucky country.

The nationalist myth created by the government that refugees are a threat to Australian workers creates a situation where by working class people wrongly are battling against the poor of the world. In turn this takes the heat off capitalists, politicians and trade union leaders who have the power to do something constructive about the employment prospects for working class Australians.

Immigration helps create jobs by increasing the demand for all human necessities such food, housing, clothing, etc. The Federal Labor opposition has been relatively silent in this election year on the treatment of refugees in detention. Labor immigration spokesman Con Sciacca however recently stated that Labor would support legislation put forward by the Coalition government that automatically disqualified any detainee from asylum who committed acts of violence while in detention. The Socialist Party does not condone violence as a means of getting a message across, although in this situation it does feel that Australian government has provoked violence by detaining refugees for an intolerable period of time. What choice has the detainees but to riot in order to get a hearing?

The Socialist Party supports open borders as a basic democratic human right. We also believe in working class solidarity with those fighting oppression all over the world. When capitalism and landlordism is overthrown in the Middle East and elsewhere, and people have reasonable and safe living conditions they will not find it necessary to flee their country of origin. Migration will become a matter of choice rather than an act of survival.

Starting at Seattle, a new wave of anti-capitalist protest has developed amongst a layer of youth and militant workers in the advanced capitalist world. The M1 article on page three looks at why this is occurring and the big opportunities it opens up for socialist ideas. This feature by Stephen Jolly examines the question of direct action from a socialist perspective. Drawing on the rich experience of the Socialist Party, it highlights key features and principles of direct action.

The militant protests at capitalist conferences by radical youth and workers are a reaction to a system that leaves millions living in abject poverty. The protests also mark a turn away from the methods of the ALP left, moderate unions and Non-Government Organisations of petitioning, pleading, and lobbying the ruling class for a few crumbs off the table. "Direct Action" (DA) has becoming a rallying cry for the protest movement, almost an end in itself or at least a political method seen as something separate from 'politics'. But the methods of DA employed at any one time are not politically neutral or an end in themselves. They flow from the ideas, principles and strategy of those involving themselves in the action-whether this is conscious or not.

When the Labor Party and union bureaucracy organise protest action it is usually because of pressure from the working class. Sometimes, such as the MUA dispute in 1998, it is to lean on the working class in a battle to preserve the role of the bureaucracy role in the system of exploitation. They use a bureaucratic-centralist approach in organising such action. That is, undemocratic, bureaucratic decision-making processes at the top and the expectation that the rank and file follow orders in a centralist, united way.

Of course the very act of bringing workers onto the streets opens up dangers for the bureaucracy and the task for Marxists is to take advantage of these contradictions. They should highlight the limited aims and undemocratic methods of the leadership, and offer an alternative socialist programme and strategy and tactics for the struggle.

The petty bourgeois liberals do not have a class approach, in fact they have no confidence in the working class to change society or even effect reforms. In that sense they are different to the bureaucracy in the labour movement, who well understand the power of the working class and mobilise it as a last resort. The liberal approach is to plead and lobby the ruling class to effect change. DA in the form of peaceful protests can be used as part of this strategy. The political principals are that of a Popular Front, that is an alliance of the lowest common denominator. The fight against fascism in a Popular Front, therefore, has vague slogans of opposition to racism-the socialist ideas to undercut the support for fascism (job creation, decent housing etc) are sacrificed.

The Reconciliation Walks last year were a case in point. Aboriginal people and trade unionists marching together with mining companies and Liberals. This means the ideas of Land Rights, job creation and nationalisation of the mining industry have to be hidden to keep the ruling class on-side. The organising principles of DA in a Popular Front are also bureaucratic-centralist. Great emphasis is put on mild, peaceful action so as the target audience (one or other section of the ruling class) is responsive to the needs of the liberals.

This approach is held by those who are often ex-liberals or inverted liberals. That is, liberals who suddenly realise that polite demonstrations are getting nowhere. They up the ante to radical direct action, even individual terrorism. The aim is the same, to get the ruling class to take notice. Like liberals, they don't have confidence in the ability of the working class to change society. They think the actions of a militant group will trigger support in the wider community, and force the ruling class to retreat on an issue.

Because they don't see the importance of the mass involvement of the workers and youth, the DA of theultra-lefts is often organised in an undemocratic, secretive fashion at the whim of the leaders of thesegroups. Anarchist groups and those influenced by their ideas argue that the movement needs no leaders and only requires 'self-organisation'. Groups such as Reclaim the Streets, Critical Mass, AWOL also put this forward. But the reality is the protests do not happen spontaneously; they are organised (how else would they happen?) and leaflets are written, web pages updated and so on.

We believe that the movement needs democratic structures and that people in 'leadership' positions should be democratically elected and accountable. Otherwise, an undemocratic clique is taking all the decisions. We reject any idea that there is a conflict between Marxism and DA. Occupations, pickets, demonstrations, strikes and act of revolution itself are all part of the political weaponry of the socialist movement. The Marxist approach towards DA flows from a theoretical analysis of the situation and rests on decades of working class experience. Where we differ from the ultra lefts is on the need to reach out and bring in the workers into motion on issues that effect them. This active participation in struggle is what more than anything radicalises an deepens the understanding of the working class. This approach involves a concrete set of demands that will bring people into action. It also involves a democratic-centralist approach to organisation. That is, democratic debate over strategies and tactics on DA, and then, once a decision is made, a united approach to the implementation of the decisions. It is an approach that embraces responsibility instead of avoiding responsibility. Democratic structures need to be set-up well before, during and between mass protests to ensure everyone can have a say, are well-informed and can take part in making decisions. Such democratic organisation would allow a real discussion on tactics, including how to prepare to marshal and defend the demonstrations and other protests. Also, democratic organisation would allow a full discussion on what demands, slogans and programme the anti-capitalist movement should adopt.

When working with others around a DA, Marxists take a United Front approach as opposed to a Popular Front approach. That is, a working relationship with others around an agreed, limited goal (eg blockading the Crown Towers last September), but no restrictions on each other political programme: To march separately, but to strike together. This is the approach used at Richmond Secondary College, at S11 and M1, and in the anti-Hanson movement.

The Socialist Party has recently established two new youth orientated groups-the Young Socialist League (YSL) and the Young Workers Association (YWA). YSL meet every Friday at 6:00 at our new centre in Melbourne's Trades Hall. This group will fight many struggles against the discrimination and the worsening conditions at schools, universities and workplaces. The current generation have the most in common with the generations of the Great Depression. Work is getting harder and harder to find and when it is found working conditions and pay are more than often way below average. Many young people are turning to drugs and even suicide tob escape the way they live.

YSL have been having regular meetings from s11 onwards after our stalls on Fridays we believe many young people are looking for an alternative system to the capitalist one at hand we believe we will provide that alternative. Our group will discuss socialist ideas and will have educational reading groups and talks from guest speakers. We will also organise gigs and similar events as fundraisers. The other group YWA is an unofficial union for young peoples especially those outside the trade union movement. Young people are now earning around 30% less than adults for the same work.

The younger the workers get the lower the pay becomes. Many young workers in casual employment can earn as little as $10 a shift. 56% of all youth earn as little as $200 dollars a week, including government benefits. For $1.00 members get access to a hotline to give legal advice as well as information on safety, and rates of pay. When necessary both organisations will resort to direct action including rallies and boycotts.

For more information on YSL or YWA or to organise a YWA member to come to your work place please call 03 9639 9111 Or email us on: sp@mira.net Postal address: PO Box 1015, Collingwood, Victoria 3066