COVID-19 intensifies the class struggle in Australia Cheryl Crisp is the national secretary of the Socialist Equality Party (Australia). She was a founding member of the Socialist Labour League, the forerunner of the SEP, in 1972, and has played a leading role in the Trotskyist movement in Australia for more than four decades. She delivered these remarks to the 2021 International May Day Online Rally held by the WSWS Speech delivered by Cheryl Crisp to the 2021 International May Day Online Rally On behalf of the SEP Australia, I would like to welcome listeners throughout the world. The last year has been one like no other. The spread of COVID-19 has transformed the lives of billions of people. More than three million have died. The events in India, Brazil, the US and Europe highlight that far from the pandemic being under control by the end of 2020, this year has seen an acceleration of its spread, its lethality and the deterioration of the conditions of life of the working class internationally. This was not inevitable, but the outcome of conscious policies of capitalist governments.