On 21 July 1971 there was a statewide stoppage against the Apartheid State of South Africa and the whitewashing by having the Springboks tour Australia to play football.
The President of the Qld Trades and Labour Council, Jack Egerton, said:
“It was disgraceful that the Queensland government saw fit to declare a state of emergency for a football match to support a racist and fascist regime in South Africa, while primary industries in the state were depressed and there was serious unemployment in the central northern and western parts of the state.“
Here is the full report from the Courier Mail on 22 July 2022.
By Friday 23 July 1971, matters had heated up, police charged demonstrators outside the tower mill hotel and hospitalised some, invaded the trades and labour council building. Student and staff response at the University of Queensland was immediate. A meeting of 3000 people in the Queensland University union refectory voted to go on strike to oppose apartheid.
Here is the Conservative Brisbane Courier mail report about the student union response:
It is a wonder that similar actions are not taken against the apartheid state of Israel!
Ian Curr
12 Jan 2022