This film is a record of street marches that were banned by successive Queensland governments. In 1967 the Nicklin government tried to stop the anti-Vietnam war protests. Huge moratorium demonstrations marched through the city.
Then, ten years later, the Bjelke-Petersen government banned street marches to stop the anti-uranium movement from mobilising people to Hamilton No 4 wharf in Brisbane. The day of the political street march was over. Or was it?
The democratic rights struggles led to the largest mass defiance of a government in Australian history from September 1977 till July 1979. Over 2,000 people were arrested trying to march.
In 1977, the stated aim of this extra-parliamentary opposition was to bring down a repressive government that supported transnational mining companies (bauxite & uranium). The popular opposition was reflected in the campaign slogan ‘Joh Must Go‘ prominent in rallies and marches during that period.
Ian Curr
15 Feb 2022