News

'Don't privatise electricity'

'Don't privatise electricity' By Alex Bainbridge NEWCASTLE — One hundred people heard Victorian Trades Hall Council secretary Leigh Hubbard address an open meeting of the Newcastle Trades Hall on July 24. He argued that the privatisation

Work injuries increase

Work injuries increase By James Vassilopoulos Work injury rates are beginning to rise, according to a recently released publication by the National Occupational Health and Safety Commission. The federal government last year cut the budget

Changes to Tasmanian parliament proposed

By Tony Iltis HOBART — The state Liberal government is set to introduce legislation following the August budget to hold a referendum on changing Tasmania's parliamentary system. The government has cited the perception that Tasmania is

The Mortimer report

The Mortimer report @box text intro = "Spend $21 billion on new jobs, Howard told", was the way the July 24 Australian headlined the Mortimer report on industry assistance. This reflects the Murdoch philosophy of journalism: if you have to

CPSU rank and file meet

CPSU rank and file meet By Bill Mason BRISBANE — Community and Public Sector Union members met in the City Hall on July 16 and voted against the national management committee's (NMC) move to dump the union's campaign for an Australian

Push for Tasmanian Hydro sale

Push for Tasmanian Hydro sale By Tony Iltis HOBART — The Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Trust Bank of Tasmania have released a report supporting plans by the state government to privatise all or part of the Hydro

'Fairwear' campaign active in Adelaide

'Fairwear' campaign active in Adelaide By Melanie Sjoberg ADELAIDE — Shoppers in Adelaide's Rundle Mall on July 20 were exposed to the appalling working conditions of outworkers providing garments for the fashion industry as part of a

Salsa for Cuba

Salsa for Cuba By Lynda Hansen BRISBANE — More than 120 supporters attended the Committee in Solidarity with Latin America and the Caribbean (CISLAC) annual fundraiser here on July 19, supported by the Australia Cuba Friendship Society

Black activist's visa revoked

By Helen Cunningham and Marina Cameron Immigration minister Philip Ruddock cancelled the visa of US Black Panther activist Lorenzo Kom'Boa Ervin on July 25. Ervin was arrested in Brisbane and held in solitary confinement earlier this month after

TAFE teachers launch reinstatement petition

TAFE teachers launch reinstatement petition By Maurice Sibelle MELBOURNE — A petition to reinstate three teachers sacked from Northern Melbourne Institute of TAFE was launched at the Australian Education Union (Victorian branch) annual

Victorian transport workers to strike

By Bronwen Beechey MELBOURNE — Tram, train and bus workers employed by the Public Transport Corporation will hold a 24-hour strike from midnight on July 28. The action will protest against the state government's persistent refusal to grant a

NSW State Rail jobs to be cut

NSW State Rail jobs to be cut By Chris Spindler SYDNEY — A review by State Rail management may result in 1750 jobs being lost in NSW. The job cuts are related to the state Labor government's refusal to continue $115 million of funding.