Eureka 150th anniversary
It’s been funny to hear ALP leaders claim the Eureka Stockade as some sort of defining moment in the rise of organised labor.
Mark Latham apparently said something about Eureka representing the spirit of independent workers, and I heard Kevin Rudd this morning rave about how Eureka foreshadowed the rights of working men, which he implied wouldn’t have occurred without the rebellion.
Joe Hockey rightly replied to Rudd that Eureka was a protest against excessive taxes. My great-great grandfather James Evans, a carrier, signed a petition against the cost of mining licences, which was a prelude to the stockade.
The government at the time was milking money from men who, in many cases, didn’t find much of the elusive yellow stuff.
Eureka is significant because it’s the only instance of military action against free men in Australia where lives were claimed. No more no less. That fact is a credit to the lawfulness and cohesion of our predominantly Anglo-Irish society.
These articles might be of interest:
Tags: History, politics, society
Leave a comment
Recent comments
- Kathryn: I have just started (literally the past couple of days) trying to pick up where my mother had started...
- malissa: but IS THERE ANYTHING else 2 use besides an umberella if your just goin for a walk
- Nev: I am a cyclist and have had my share of attacks this year…. the orange flag (from Woolies at $8) and the...
- johnny cage: Google finance has specific US UK CAN and CHINA sites we need an Australian one urgently.
- Sue: I understand. I have had a few awful smears in my comments from time to time. All of my older posts are...
