Australian News

‘Comfort women' survivors to hold rally

BRIEF “Comfort women” survivors and their supporters will rally in Sydney on March 7, as part of a global day of action, to protest against the human rights abuses suffered by hundreds of thousands of women during World War II. An estimated 200,000 women in were forced into sexual slavery and continua... » Free Muslim legal service launched

BRIEF The Islamic Girls and Women’s Group will make its office in Ross House on Flinders Lane available for use by Muslim Legal Services Victoria to provide free legal services for Muslims. » James Hardie attacks workers’ rights, again

BRIEF On March 5, maintenance department workers employed at James Hardie Ltd’s Rosehill site took protected industrial action for 24 hours. They were supported by activists from Worker Solidarity, who organised a community picket on the day » Melbourne council to register same-sex unions

BRIEF The Melbourne City Council is taking steps to introduce a partnership scheme that will allow Victorian same-sex couples to have their civil unions recognised by the council. » Syrian detainee tortured

BRIEF After an epileptic seizure on December 15, Sharif Assad, a Syrian being held in Sydney’s Villawood immigration detention centre, was transferred to Bankstown hospital against his will and tied to a bed. » Youth campaign against Work Choices

BRIEF Young people are likely to be hit hard by Work Choices, the Youth Coalition, the peak youth affairs body in the ACT, told the Legislative Assembly’s select committee on working families on March 1. » Australia to join international protest against war

Anti-war campaigners around Australia are preparing for large protest rallies on March 17, the fourth anniversary of the US-led invasion of Iraq. » Cairns protest against resort development

On February 24, 200 people rallied at the Esplanade Lagoon despite tropical rain to oppose a proposed resort and housing complex at False Cape on the coast south of the city. Until now, this side of Trinity Bay has provided Cairns with a natural setting visible from its centre. » Climate change protest at ALP office

Chanting “ALP’s hands are black, we want our future back”, members of the Rising Tide environment group protested outside the ALP’s NSW head office on February 27 against a proposed new coal export terminal in Newcastle. » Custodian agreement to protect Red Gum forests

On February 23, representatives of the Murray and Lower Darling Rivers Indigenous Nations (MLDRIN) and the NSW National Parks Association (NPA) signed an agreement for shared protection of the ecology of the Murray and Lower Darling areas. » Gippsland unionists locked out for six months

Underneath the enormous conveyor belts at the back of the Yallourn power station, 49 metalworkers from MEC Engineering, which is part of the Eliott group, have maintained a six-month “protest embassy” to win their jobs and entitlements back. » Major Mori addresses large crowds

On February 28, Major Michael Mori, David Hicks’s US military lawyer, addressed a packed Founders Hall at the University of Ballarat. The mixed crowd of at least 600 learned a whole lot more about how Hicks is the Australian government’s sacrificial lamb in the “war on terror”. ... » Protests support David Hicks

On March 2, the day that Guantanamo Bay prisoner David Hicks was finally charged, activists in Geelong led a shackled and hooded figure through the city streets chanting “Free David Hicks!” » Students arrested at Qld university

Four Queensland University of Technology students were arrested on March 1 for expressing their political opinions on campus. » Trades Hall organises IWD rally

This year’s annual International Women’s Day rally in Melbourne is being organised by the Victorian Trades Hall Council. To be held at the GPO at noon on March 8, the rally will focus on protesting against PM John Howard’s legislative attacks on the wages and working conditions of wom... » Unions to rally against NSW job cuts

The NSW Public Service Association and Unions NSW have called a rally on March 15, in the lead-up to the NSW elections, against job cuts. The PSA is highighting Liberal leader Peter Debnam’s threat to cut 20,000 public service jobs if elected, and is circulating a petition calling on all candidate... » `Stand up for your rights' concert

The spirit of the radical movements of the 1960-70s was reignited at the Socialist Alliance’s “Stand up for your rights” election campaign concert on March 24. Performing classic hits from artists such as Bob Marley and John Lennon, plus original music and songs, a swathe of musicians and five... »

---

Also in GLW #701:

read »International News

ACEH: Congress proceeds despit...

Afghanistan: No gender equalit...

Agent Orange: A token gesture ...

Haiti: A state of siege

Iraq war options canvassed by ...

Is China Africa's new imperial...

Israeli army terrorises Nablus...

Italian communist senator take...

North Korea: US moves to lift ...

Pakistan: Aisha Amin - peace h...

Protests after Australian troo...

Tens of thousands march agains...

The toll of Israel's war on Pa...

US rainbow solidarity for the ...

Venezuela, Argentina to establ...

Venezuela-London agreement to ...

Venezuela: 'People are the beg...

Venezuelan women 'struggling a...

Brief: Anti-war protest...

Brief: Anti-war song so...

Brief: El Salvador: You...

Brief: Iranian women de...

Brief: Iraq union's off...

Brief: Iraqi women face...

Brief: Poverty kills 12...

Brief: Trade unionist m...

Brief: Trade unionists ...

read »Comment & Analysis

Families: free welfare for the...

Howard's unrelenting assault o...

No more excuses: Brings Hicks ...

Qantas: executives may pocket ...

SMH columnist slanders Cuba, r...

Tamil refugees to be deported ...

The limits of formal equality

UNICEF: Australian economy fai...

Work Choices reverses gains fo...

`Ambitions of empire'

Letters: Letters to the...

Resistance!: War, revol...

Resistance!: Why we nee...

Our Common Cause: Restr...

read »Cultural Dissent

Review: An artistic tou...

Review: Global warming:...

Review: On the box

Review: Reaching for a ...

read »Loose Cannons

Loose Cannons

Loose Cannons