Peter Barrack
Peter Barrack was a SEARCH Foundation member.
Radical life
Peter Barrack was born in the Newcastle working class suburb of Stockton and, like many post-WWII working-class teenagers in Newcastle, he joined a surf club and played rugby league. His early working life was as a painter, accepting an apprenticeship at the Department of Housing based in Williamtown RAAF base. His early political life involved membership of the Australian Labor Party in the late 1960s and subsequent membership of the Communist Party of Australia from 1970 until its dissolution in 1991.
Through his work at the RAAF base Barrack became a union activist, and in the mid- 1970s, after winning a ballot, he served for a period as the northern organiser for the Painters and Decorators Union, until the right-wing-controlled state level of the union stopped him from re-nominating. He was then unemployed for several years and doing casual work. All through this, Barrack was at the forefront of the anti-Vietnam War movement, leading to a stint in jail for placing anti-war posters in public places. He was Secretary of the May Day Committee for several years as well as being active in the major peace group – the Association for International Co-operation and Disarmament (AICD).
With the retirement of Newcastle Trades Hall Council (NTHC) Secretary, Keith Wilson in 1979, Peter was chosen to step up to that position on the most influential industrial organisation in the region. Peter was Secretary of the NTHC for 21 years, and this span became a major defining period in the history of the NTHC with many highlights.
When Peter took over, the NTHC was already famous not only for defending workers’ rights, but also for defending public ownership and for green bans (eg the extension of Pacific Park). Often this was in concert with resident groups. Peter continued this tradition. There was support for Carrington residents in their struggle with the Maritime Services Board (a green ban from Feb.1983); the Tomaree peninsula campaign in 1984; a campaign to prevent closure of Wallsend Hospital in 1991-92 (a 24-hour picket operated for 18 months); the anti-Joh Belke-Petersen Campaign in May 1987; and of course, the famous Patrick’s waterfront dispute in1998.
Another important struggle was maintaining left-wing control of NTHC. In the 1980s the right-wing-controlled NSW Labor Council set up a rival Trades and Labor Council in the Hunter Valley to try and make NTHC redundant. The organisation they set up was called Centre Unity Group of Unions (CUGA). It turned out to be a failure partly because the then Premier Wran appointed Peter (as NTHC rep) to a range of tripartite organisations instead of CUGA people, and also because Peter and the NTHC recruited experienced union organiser Sergio Zorino as the NTHC negotiator for regional industrial agreements. These two things, plus the tenacity of the left-wing, resulted in CUGA itself becoming the redundant organisation.
For most of the 1980s Peter was simultaneously: Secretary of NTHC; President of the CPA; and President of the Newcastle Workers Club – one of the largest clubs in the Hunter Valley. As a result of his contribution to unionism and industrial relations in general he was awarded an OAM in 1994. His extensive ASIO files attest to the fact that the establishment considered him a dangerous ‘person of interest’.
After he retired in 2000 Peter remained politically active, leading to his role representing the SEARCH Foundation on the committee of 12 that organises the successful Hunter Valley Broad Left. He was one of the most active on that committee, always advocating civil rights, the need for peace, an independent foreign policy and an end to the Australian-US military alliance. He was the recipient of an Outstanding Service Award from the Broad Left in 2015.[1]
SEARCH Foundation 2018 AGM
Members who sent apologies to SEARCH Foundation 2018 AGM included Matthew Miles, Lyn Pressman, Maree Johnston, Jack Humphrys, Nadia Montague, Vera Deacon, Peter Barrack, Dianne Barrack, Judy Morley, Kevin Tory, Jane Durie, Charlie Aarons, Tom McDonald, Richard Archer, Janice Workman.
NOW WE THE PEOPLE
In July 2001, endorsers of the SEARCH Foundation's NOW WE THE PEOPLE conference in Sydney included Peter Barrack.
Broadside Weekly board
An addition to the alternative media is due to appear this week with the first issue of a new paper, Broadside Weekly.
Described as "an independent, broadly based left and progressive weekly", Broadside will be formally launched in Sydney on June 5.
Proposals for the project were initiated in the second half of 1990. The new paper has a supporters' association headed by a board consisting of Brian Aarons, Anthony Albanese, Wendy Bacon, Peter Barrack, Meredith Burgmann, Wendy Caird, Patricia Caswell, Kerren Clark, Tony Cooke, Drew Hutton, Ron Knowles, Stuart MacIntyre, Tom McDonald, Peter Murphy, Carmel Shute, John Sutton, Lindsay Tanner, Jo Vallentine and Roger Woock.[2]
Broadside Weekly was supported by the SEARCH Foundation.
Broadside Weekly sponsors
Sponsorof the the Broadside Weekly listed in issue number 3, June 17, 1992, page 15 included Peter Barrack.
Broad Left Weekly sponsors
160 people sponsored the Broad Left Weekly in a pamphlet published in the January 30 1991 Tribune - including Peter Barrack.
New Left Party
Circa 1990 Barbara Smee, David Wiles and Peter Barrack were New Left Party contacts in Newcastle.[3]
"It's time to act"
"It's time to act" was a 1991 statement calling for the formation of the New Left Party.
Newcastle sponsors were : Peter Barrack, Bill Bodenham, Jeff Bradford, Barbara Curthoys, Nola Fenech, Greg Giles, Barry Johnson, Steve Kelly, Susan McDonald, Terry Mawdsley, Hilary Purves..
"STATEMENT REGARDING ABORIGINAL LAND RIGHTS"
In April 1986 several hundred attendees of The Broad Left Conference in Melbourne signed an add in the National Times "STATEMENT REGARDING ABORIGINAL LAND RIGHTS".
Signatories included Peter Barrack.
The Broad Left Conference
The Communist Party of Australia, Association for Communist Unity and others organized The Broad Left Conference, which was held 1986 28th-31st March, at the NEW SOUTH WALES INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY Broadway, Sydney.
Peter Barrack was among the list of sponsors.