News briefs

UWS funding protest

SYDNEY — Thirty students and staff at the Kingswood campus of the University of Western Sydney protested on September 4 against the federal government's planned cuts to university funding, under which UWS stands to lose over $35 million and UWS students could be hit with $33 million in extra HECS debts.

After meeting on the campus lawns, students presented a letter to the staff of federal Liberal MP Jackie Kelly demanding that she oppose the government's Nelson Review of higher education.

Anti-FTA protest planned

CANBERRA — A protest against the US-Australia Free Trade Agreement is being planned for October 27, when US trade negotiators delegates will be in town. The signing of an FTA could mean the elimination of the Australian Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme.

A phone hook-up of representatives from the Australian Fair Trade and Investment Network, Friends of the Earth, the Greens, the ALP and the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union has decided that the speakers at the protest will include the actor Judy Davis and AMWU national secretary Doug Cameron.

Anti-Ruddock protest at children's festival

SYDNEY — On September 6, 20 refugees' rights activists protested the attendence of immigration minister Philip Ruddock at the annual Bankstown children's festival.

Ruddock had been invited by the festival organisers. However, many local residents were outraged to learn that the man responsible for the locking up of hundreds of children in detention camps was being allowed to speak at a children's festival. Many turned their backs on him as he spoke from the stage and when he later made his way through the crowd.

From Green Left Weekly, September 10, 2003.

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From GLW issue 553