Melanie Sjoberg

  • TWU vote spells trouble for ACTU big-20 plan

    MELBOURNE — An important element of the ACTU's drive to amalgamate Australia's roughly 300 unions into about 20 mega-unions ran into trouble in December when rank and file workers defeated an attempt to shotgun the

  • Back to the dark ages

    Community opinion has been outraged by the decision of the Supreme Court to uphold a lesser sentence for convicted rapist Heros Hakopian, on the ground that the victim would have suffered less trauma because she was a prostitute. Melbourne newspapers and radio stations have been filled with the debate.

  • Victorian unions respond on Timor

    MELBOURNE — Outrage on the part of many trade union activists over the massacre in Dili and persistent activity by the Timorese community and solidarity groups have produced a response from the organised trade union movement.

  • Women's Circus leaps ahead

    Women's Circus leaps aheadMELBOURNE — The big top, straw, hard seats, clowns, lion tamers? No, the Women's Circus is very different from the traditional circus. Up to 70 women leap, tumble, juggle, fly and more —

  • 'ALP finished as a progressive force'

    MELBOURNE —"The ALP is finished as a progressive force in politics. Those who still believe in the possibility of the Labor Party moving to radical reformism are fooling themselves", Joe Camilleri told a Rainbow

  • Campaign against sexual violence begins

    Campaign against sexual violence beginsMELBOURNE — Action on the issue of sexual violence against women on campuses has stepped up here with demonstrations being held on several campuses on September 12. A cross-campus

  • Kirner stalls on Coode relocation

    Kirner stalls on Coode relocationMELBOURNE — As the immediate danger from the Coode Island chemical fire subsides, it seems the government is hoping the initial shock and anger will also subside. The Kirner government has

  • Toxic Melbourne

    MELBOURNE — For two days last week, the city was engulfed by black clouds of toxic fumes as fire raged through the Coode Island chemical storage facilities. Emergency services were stretched to the limit. Evacuations around

  • The war not yet won

    As The Mirror Burns A film by Christina Pozzan and Di Bretherton Exclusive season Aug 23 to Sept 1 at the State Film Theatre, Melbourne Sept 6-21, AFI Cinema, Paddington Reviewed"I was deeply shocked

  • Green independent for Footscray

    MELBOURNE — Colleen Hartland, a long-time activist in the western suburbs, will contest the seat of Footscray in the next state elections. She is a member of the Hazardous Materials Action Group, and was until recently a

  • Controversy over women's dance

    Controversy over women's danceMELBOURNE — Months after the event, Northcote City Council has refused to return a bond for the hire of Northcote Town Hall for the International Women's Day dance. The bond was provided by

  • Green Alliance announces Victorian candidates

    MELBOURNE — With Victoria likely to go to the polls before the year is out, the Green Alliance has announced that it will stand two candidates in order to offer a real alternative to voters disillusioned with the major parties