Australian News

By Vivienne Porzsolt The outcome of a case currently before the Human Rights Commission in Canberra could have a huge impact on the status and welfare of women. "For women's health and women's health centres, the consequences could be

By Bronwen Beechey MELBOURNE — Environment groups, local councils and residents have reacted angrily to a February 3 "options paper" by the Coode Island Review Panel nominating six possible sites for relocation of the hazardous chemicals

MELBOURNE — The vehicle builders union (VBEF) estimates that at least another 1000 jobs will be lost in related industries as well as the 2000 directly lost as a result of the closure Nissan's Australian car manufacturing operations. Other

By Stefan Skibicki and Bernie Brian WOLLONGONG — Members of the Liquor Trades Union (LTU) and Transport Workers Union (TWU) working in the canteens at BHP's Port Kembla steelworks have voted to remain on strike indefinitely over plans by

Red-faced Hewson retreats By Julia Perkins SYDNEY — "Listen mate, I grew up from your stage. I'm going to make sure you have the chance to get a job", yelled red-faced, finger-pointing Liberal leader John Hewson outside Randwick Social

Toxic incinerator for Newcastle? By Edward Johnstone NEWCASTLE — The city council here may be considering a high-temperature incinerator (HTI) at Kooragang Island, says John Benett of Newcastle Concerned Citizens (NCC). During 1991, the

By Dick Nichols SYDNEY — Has the State Rail Authority here reached the point of outright sacking of its workers? This would seem to be the message of moves to eliminate 600 cleaning positions prior to privatising all cleaning work on Sydney's

Mines and building unions unite By Steve Painter SYDNEY — On February 10, the building workers' (BWIU) and mineworkers' (UMFA) unions amalgamated to form the Construction, Forestry and Mining Employees Union (CFMEU), with about 96,000

MELBOURNE — Nissan workers have voted to accept a redundancy package from the company, which will close its Australian car manufacturing plants by October. According to vehicle builders' union (VBEF) secretary Ian Jones, the deal averages out to

By Melanie Sjoberg MELBOURNE — While some media and business circles have hailed the recent Nissan plant closure as a necessary rationalisation, prospects in the vehicle industry are no brighter for Nissan's demise. Ford motors has announced