Media Release ILPS-Australia Chapter 27 March 2008, Melbourne (VIC), Australia Prof Sison warns of the worsening crisis of the world capitalist system at ILPS-Australia National Conference 2008 ILPS (International League of Peoples' Struggle) International Chairperson, Professor Jose Ma. Sison presented an overview of the world economic situation in a keynote speech delivered via internet. Professor Sison stressed the deepening crisis of the capitalist system reflected in the current slump of the US economy, massive unemployment, phenomenal rise in public debt, widening trade and budgetary deficits, and imposition of heavier tax burdens on the people. Professor Sison reiterated that the working class and peoples of the world are fighting back. He called on ILPS Australia to promote actively the participation of its member organizations and to attract other organizations to join the ILPS. He also urged ILPS chapters to send delegations to the Third International Assembly (TIA) to be held in June 18 to 21 in Hong Kong. The participants welcomed the keynote speech by Prof Sison whose illegal arrest and detention last August 2007 by Dutch police attracted worldwide attention and protests. ILPS - Australia's members gathered on the 23rd of March at its first National Conference at the Communications, Electrical and Plumbing Union (CEPU) Conference Hall in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. The national gathering followed the founding of ILPS-Australia nine months ago on 9 June 2007. In this conference the delegates reflected on socio-economic problems of struggling Australian families and communities. After welcoming the delegates, ILPS-Australia Chairperson Len Cooper steered the conference through to its main agenda item of preparing for the ILPS Third International Assembly (TIA). This included identifying the delegates, discussion on sending delegates and the preparation of the Australian chapter report to the TIA. Len Cooper spoke of the political and economic situation of Australia and how it sits on the world situation. He acknowledged that the achievement of the Australian working class in throwing the conservative Howard government out of office is just the beginning of the long struggle of the unions and workers to get rid of the exploitative and oppressive laws of the Howard government and the fight for better working and wage conditions of Australian workers. Len said that the new Rudd government will not totally dismantle the anti-worker and anti-family Work Choices introduced by Howard government. Len mentioned the continuance of a good relationship between the Bush government and the Rudd government and the maintenance of Australia's role as the deputy sheriff in the Asia Pacific region. He also highlighted the further devaluing of workers' labour as shown by the continuing price increase of commodities while wage increases are capped or in a very slow pace. Shirley Winton, member of the ILPS-Australia National Coordinating Committee, called on participants to unite and organise with the people to resist the burden of US imperialism’s global economic crisis being shifted on to the people. She further emphasised the ILPS-Australia role in supporting and promoting workers and communities struggle to stop the destruction of the environment and make the polluting corporations pay for the repair of their environmental plunder. The conference identified issues to address this year and prioritised its activities. The conference recognised that there are many groups and organisations with particular focus on certain issues, ILPS Australia will seek to enhance these by supporting their actions. ILPS Australia will endeavour to ensure its presence in most, if not all, activities in Australia addressing the 18 concerns identified in the charter of ILPS and to address local Australian issues. It will conduct analyses of the root causes and the impact of various socio-economic pressures at specified times and will produce publications and other relevant statements and documents. ### Reference: Len Cooper, ILPS – Australia Chairperson Email: lencoop@iinet.net.au Phone: (61) 0438 389 302