Pip Hinman

Victorian Liberals gut FoIMELBOURNE — A new law which restricts freedom of information access to the records of hundreds of state authorities was passed here on November 17. Scrutiny of any state government business enterprise

Vigil mourns death of democracyMELBOURNE — A vigil began on the steps of Parliament House at 11 p.m. on November 12 to mark the passing into law of the Employee Relations Act. The ERA was passed by parliament

MELBOURNE — When 200,000 people take to the streets, as they did on November 10 despite the rain and patches of hail, the atmosphere is hard to describe. Photographs taken with a wide-angled lens or from helicopters can only

MELBOURNE — About 200 people attended a three-day Ecopolitics VI conference from September 25. Talks and panels covered a range of topics from environmental philosophy to politics and social movements. Although the attendance

MELBOURNE — About 60 people attended an October 16 public meeting organised by Independent Action, a loose alliance linking left independents in the state elections. They heard three progressive candidates: Colleen Hartland

Aid for NicaraguaNon-governmental organisations in Australia are joining the international relief effort for Nicaragua after tidal waves triggered by an earthquake devastated 340 kilometers of the country's Pacific coast on

Green Party launch setMELBOURNE — A national Green Party is to be launched at the end of this month, Janet Rice from the Melbourne-based Green Politics Network (GPN) told a meeting here on August 5. Speaking at a meeting

It's almost received wisdom within some sections of the women's movement that to be a feminist is to support censorship of pornography. But a growing number of feminists are concerned about anti-pornography campaigns. We

MELBOURNE — About 40 people attended a meeting on July 28, called by the Communist Intervention group, to discuss the formation of a new left political alliance to field candidates in the Victorian elections due in October. The

Cleary urges 'progressive independent' candidatesMELBOURNE — "The ALP has lost its way and the Opposition is a joke," Phil Cleary, independent MP for Wills, told a public meeting of about 200 people on July 9. The meeting on

Studded belts now 'weapons'MELBOURNE — A decision to charge a receptionist with possession of a regulated weapon by Magistrate Peter Couzens has outraged and amazed the gay and lesbian community, among others. The "weapon"

Court 'okays gay murder'MELBOURNE — Gay rights activists are protesting that a May 28 Supreme Court jury verdict sends a clear message to the community that it is allowable for a man to kill another man who makes sexual