Brewery struggle continues

By Leon Harrison

PERTH -- The struggle to turn the old Swan Brewery site into parkland continues. One of the protesters arrested on the site on August 28, Uniting Church minister Helen Richmond, made a scathing attack on the Lawrence Labor government from the dock of the Perth Magistrates Court.

Richmond accused the government of showing disrespect toward Aboriginal people and ignoring the significance of the area to them.

Police have been present every day at the site, attempting to intimidate protesters. One woman with children has been told that Child Welfare could be informed because of her activities.

Heritage minister Jim McGinty survived a censure motion by only one vote in the Legislative Council on September 2. On the same day, five protesters occupied McGinty's office in West Perth. The protesters, including Peter Stewart from the Catholic Social Justice Commission and Uniting Church minister Neville Watson, were arrested.

Aboriginal activists Robert Bropho, Clarrie Isaacs and Len Culbong have called on Aboriginal Ernie Bridge to step down from his position as agriculture minister.

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