Melbourne Anarchist Club MAC info, events and news

Statement by MAC about its future. 16 October 2020

After a years-long struggle, the Melbourne Anarchist Club (MAC) has finally thwarted an attempt by a small group of political activists to obtain its premises by deception. As a result, we are now preparing to recommit to our principal goal: educating the wider Melbourne community about anarchism.

Over the course of its existence, the MAC has become accustomed to attacks against it by a range of racist and fascist groups. Most recently, a former Reclaim Australia activist, Philip Galea, was convicted on 5 December 2019 of plotting a terrorist attack against the MAC (Galea was also convicted of planning attacks against the Resistance Centre and Victorian Trades Hall Council).

Attacks from such quarters are, sadly, to be expected. But it is disturbing that others, including alleged radicals, have also tried to subvert our activities. In this instance, members of the Melbourne branch of the Industrial Workers of the World (IWW), joined by others from a small number of other local, non-anarchist organisations.

The actions of this group included occupying the space, preventing the MAC from meeting and otherwise utilising the space, telling lies and making slanderous assertions about the MAC, refusing conflict resolution and independent mediation, and recklessly endangering MAC members.

The MAC maintains that the organisations to which these individuals belong, especially the IWW, should hold them accountable for their destructive and irresponsible behaviour. The MAC also demands the return of all documents and other materials taken from its premises by members of these organisations.

Due to these extraordinary circumstances, and the financial burden placed upon it by the actions of this group, the MAC is currently seeking new premises from which to operate.

The MAC remains committed to supporting the campaign by Indigenous activists to Pay The Rent. In keeping with this policy, in 2018—2019 the MAC entered into an agreement with the Aboriginal Palestinian solidarity organisation to pay it 1% of the proceeds of the sale of the current property. Upon sale, the MAC will also be making a donation of $2,500 to Bubup Wilam Aboriginal Child and Family Centre. These donations are not a substitute for a Pay The Rent agreement but a gesture of support to an ongoing campaign.