Russell Pickering

  • Cops' violent rampage on Perth trains

    PERTH — A report tabled by Western Australia's Ombudsman on April 30 has revealed the violent and uncontrolled practices of the police who patrol the city's railways. As a result of the report, several cops are to

  • Anti-terrorism law attacks civil liberties

    BY RUSSELL PICKERING& ALISON DELLIT The Australian government is attempting to introduce legislation giving secret police agencies more powers, and enabling state persecution of dissidents. The legislation includes granting the attorney-general the

  • Perth rally for refugees' rights

    PERTH — Four hundred people marched through Perth city centre on March 2 demanding the closure of all refugee detention centres. Organised by a broad organising committee initiated by the Refugee Rights Action Network, the

  • Gallop to increase police powers

    PERTH — The state Labor government is under fire from civil-liberty groups for attempting introduce draconian legislation, known locally as the "anti-gang laws". The ALP rushed the bill into parliament last year soon after

  • Newtown marches for peace

    SYDNEY — The jaws of Newtown's Friday night dinner crowd dropped on October 19 as a noisy 200-strong community march blocked heavy city traffic as it proceeded up and then down King Street. Organised by the Grayndler branch

  • Colombian protesters besieged in consulate

    SYDNEY — When 16 solidarity activists, including a number of children, began their occupation of the Colombian consulate on the morning of August 8, they were protesting rampant violations of human rights in the South

  • 'Viva the heroes of the Bay of Pigs'

    SYDNEY — With song, prose and reflection, 100 supporters of the Cuban Revolution jammed into the Newtown Edge Theatre here on April 21 to commemorate the 40th annivesary of the Cuban people's defeat of the US-backed Bay of

  • Aboriginal rally condemns government 'war'

    Aboriginal rally condemns government 'war'SYDNEY — The federal government's policy towards the Aboriginal people would turn the Sydney Olympics into "the games of shame, not the games of peace", Aboriginal Tent Embassy

  • Unionists discuss 'globalisation'

    CANBERRA — The ACT Trades and Labor Council completed its Politics in the Pub seminars on September 16 with a discussion about "globalisation" and its impact on working people. More than 80 people heard Doug Cameron, national

  • Workers camp at Parliament House

    By Russell Pickeringand Sue Bull On March 2, 300 workers from the Cobar CSA copper mine and Grafton's Gilbertson's meatworks picketed Parliament House to protest their sacking and the non-payment of their entitlements. The joint protest demanded

  • Socialists triple their vote in ACT election

    CANBERRA — The Democratic Socialists tripled their 1995 election result in the ACT election on February 21. It was the first time the Democratic Socialist name had appeared on the ballot paper in the ACT. With 80% of the

  • Few to direct preferences in ACT elections

    CANBERRA — The Democratic Socialists are the only progressive party contesting the ACT election who will be recommending where their supporters direct their preferences. Sue Bull, Democratic Socialist candidate for Molonglo,