News briefs

CFMEU organiser jailed

PERTH — On November 4, Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union state assistant secretary Joe McDonald was arrested for trespass at Woodside Petroleum's project in North Fremantle.

McDonald was refused entry to the site on the grounds that the CFMEU, which has members working there, had not been included in the national agreement with United Construction.

The bail conditions initially required that McDonald not go within 10 metres of the site. When he refused to accept the condition, he was sent to Canningvale maximum security prison. He was released on bail on November 5 following a court appearance supported by 400 CFMEU members protesting outside.

Anti-abortion crusaders target clinic

PERTH — On November 7, several dozen supporters of the Coalition for the Defence of Human Life marched from St Anne's Church in Belmont, following a special church service, to Nanyara Medical Clinic. The clinic is run by Dr Victor Chan, who was charged earlier this year for performing an abortion. All clinic appointments had been rescheduled.

For the first time, Catholic Archbishop Barry Hickey joined the monthly march and led the protestors in a "prayer for the unborn".

The Association for the Legal Right to Abortion issued an open letter condemning Hickey's participation in the protest. The letter warned, "Moral outrage by church leaders can inspire strong action, even violence". The anti-abortionists are planning a protest action outside state parliament in a few weeks.

From GLW issue 341