The Fightback Show

The Fightback Show was a weekly program on Community Radio 2XX from 1986 to 1991. There’s extensive coverage of local and national politics and campaigns, including the Builders Labourers’ Federation’s battle against deregistration, protests to stop Black deaths in custody, struggles over Aboriginal land rights, and much more.

What’s below is just a smattering of the programs – there are plenty more still to digitise, along with the weekly shows Tanya produced in later years such as Undercurrents and Common Cause.

If you can contribute to the costs of this ongoing project, please do so on the “fundraiser” list above!

The Fightback Show was presented by Tanya McConvell, with some interviews and technical work by Jay Estorninho, Bill Tully and Jerome Small.

1986, April 5

Max Lane from the Socialist Workers Party on the Broad Left conference held over Easter; Nick Harris on the decision to deregister the BLF; Debbie McIlroy on the Getting Together conference held over Easter; Les Malezer on Aboriginal sovereignty

1986, April 27

Norman Ainsworth from Tenants Union; opinion polling on Land Rights; Nick Harris from Builders Labourers’ Federation; Prue Power from Nurses Federation

1986, May 4

Adrian Stevens (ACT Trades and Labour Council) on aftermath of Broad Left conference; Pam Reynolds from the BLF on the continuing efforts to organise, despite deregistration and police repression.

1986, May 11

A win for the Gurindji; John Westlund on National Gay and Lesbian Conference; Debbie Quarmby from ACF on woodchipping; Helen Stirling from Builders Labourers Federation

1986, May – Special show on Aboriginal issues

Shorty O’Neil on land rights; Frank Hardy on left politics; Phyllis Daylight on Aboriginal women; Les Malezer on sovereignty and land rights; launch of National Aboriginal Coalition; scrapping of national land rights legislation; a victory for the Gurindji.

1986, December 14

Jeanette from nurses union on Victorian nurses strike; account of police bashing of Aboriginal people in Canberra; Margaret Matthews from Anti Bases Campaign; Senator George Georges resigns from Labor.

1987, May 24

Jim Lambley from coal miners union on Queensland anti strike laws; strikes in Wollongong over workers compo; expulsion of Libyan embassy staff; Michael Mansell from Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre on Labor’s attacks.