News briefs

Three Somalis wish to stay

Three Somali asylum seekers, held in Port Hedland detention centre since 1997, have reversed their attempt to withdraw their application for a protection visa.

The three had said they were so weighed down with years in detention that they wanted to be deported, even though they may face imprisonment or worse in their home country. They now wish to maintain their applications for asylum here.

MUA victory on documents

The Maritime Union of Australia has praised an April 6 decision by the Federal Court overruling attempts by the federal government to withhold secret documents from public scrutiny.

The union claims that the secret papers cost the taxpayer more than $1 million to produce and are believed to contain advice to ministers and cabinet on how to provoke a dispute on the waterfront and a mass sacking of MUA members.

Unionist wins on e-mail

MELBOURNE — The Federal Court on April 7 found that Ansett Airlines had wrongly dismissed union delegate Maria Gencarelli for sending a union update on enterprise bargaining negotiations over the company's email system.

The Australian Services Union argued that Ansett had contravened the freedom of association provisions of the Workplace Relations Act; the Federal Court agreed.

Gencarelli is planning to take further legal action for damages against the company.

Bad news for SA Liberals

An opinion poll has revealed that support for the South Australian Liberal government is continuing to decline.

The poll, published in the Bulletin magazine, found that the Liberal Party's support has dropped to 32.5%, while support for the Labor Party has increased to 44.5%. On a two-party preferred basis, Labor polled 57% and the Liberals 43%.

Rumours continue about the possible desertion of Liberal MP Julian Stefani over a controversial emergency services levy. According to the Melbourne Age, Stefani is to quit and become an independent in the upper house. If this occurs, the Liberal government will lose its majority in parliament.

From GLW issue 401