Thousands march to End the Lies : Melbourne Indymedia

Bilal Cleland from the Islamic Council of Victoria told the rally that the socially conservative Family First party was a front for religious bigots responsible for spreading racism. "Islamophobia is the new racism, a new racism being used by religious bigots and neo-Nazis," he said. "We've seen an attempt by the conservatives to set up a stooge party like Family First, with its fundamental Taliban-style Christianity being funded to try and snatch seats from the Greens and Democrats in the Senate."

The crowd Melbourne heard from several other speakers including Greens Senate Candidate David Risstrom, David Spratt and Margarita Windisch from the Victorian Peace Network, Rob Wesley-Smith from Timor Sea Justice Campaign.

The rally marched through the city streets before ending back at the State Library for some live music from the Dili Allstars. The Greens, the Democrats and Socialist Alliance were all well represented. Other banners seen included Muslims for Peace, Unitarian Church, Lesbian and Gay Solidarity and quite a few home made banners.

In Sydney several thousand people rallied and marched through the streets. The rally heard from Andrew Wilkie, former ONA officer who went public challenging the Howard Government on the lies told to justify the invasion of Iraq. Wilkie is standing as a Greens candidate against Prime Minister John Howard in the seat of Bennelong. The rally also heard from author Thomas Keneally who said "When I get lied to as a citizen, I feel very alone, and today I feel there are others who feel like me - alone. Truth lies bleeding and isolated on the steps of our Parliament."
See Photos:
http://www.moz.net.nz/photo/2004/10/03-endthelies/

High above the streets of Sydney sky-writers attempted to emblazon "Not Happy John" on the Sydney sky but struggled with high winds disrupting the message.

According to the corporate media several hundred people rallied and marched in Perth, Adelaide and Brisbane.
In Adelaide spokesperson, Leigh Hughes, said "What's common to all these different issues is one thing, the Coalition Government has done pretty bad things in all these areas. But also they lied about all these things as well. I think it's about getting those issues out and reminding people that when the election time comes, do we really want this lying Government."

A report on Adelaide Indymedia said 300 people marched, although corporate media reports put the figure as 700.
http://www.adelaide.indymedia.org.au/newswire/display/7196/index.php

Corporate News reports:
news.com.au: http://www.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,4057,10958393%255E2,00.html
SMH: http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/10/03/1096741891293.html
The Age: http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/10/03/1096741892793.html
ABC Canberra: http://www.abc.net.au/act/news/200410/s1212184.htm

Watch for independent news reports on:
http://sydney.indymedia.org
http://perth.indymedia.org
http://adelaide.indymedia.org
http://brisbane.indymedia.org