Ruth Ratcliffe

  • Huge show of support for Timorese refugees

    DARWIN — “I'm here because I don't like injustice, and I don't like being ashamed of my country”, declared Jack, one of the 250 people who attended a public meeting in support of the East Timorese asylum seekers on

  • Workers' lives still expendable

    "They were all swept along by the one idea: that they might still get through the adjoining disused mine if they could get there before the way was cut off... In their frightened hearts old slumbering beliefs came back to

  • MBSMA bans GLW distribution

    DARWIN — Supporters of Green Left Weekly are once again having to defend their right to distribute the papers in public space. The latest attack on that right has come from Mindil Beach Sunset Markets Association (MBSMA). GLW

  • Imagine a socialist Darwin

    DARWIN — Imagine regular and cheap public transport networks; vibrant community centres offering meeting space and education programs; other centres run by, and for, young people; and community gardens with individual and

  • Refugee Action Network forms

    BY OWAIN LEWIS-JONES& RUTH RATCLIFFE DARWIN — At a public meeting on February 5, addressed by activists from the Refugee Freedom Bus, a range of groups and individuals decided to form a Refugee Action Network (RAN). The first meeting was

  • Has Henry Reynolds retreated?

    An Indelible StainBy Henry ReynoldsViking Press, 2001209 pages, $27In the introduction to An Indelible Stain?, historian Henry Reynolds predicts that after reading that book, "many people will seek more definite answers, firmer

  • More detention centres

    DARWIN — Late last year a "temporary processing centre" for asylum seekers was constructed on the Coonawarra Naval Base, located in outer Darwin. Despite costing $3 million to build, it remains empty as the federal Coalition

  • Labor offer not enough for NT teachers

    DARWIN — Teachers throughout the Northern Territory have voted overwhelmingly to reject the 6% pay rise offer made by the new Labor government and to go on strike for a day. If the strike goes ahead it will be the first full

  • 'A new era' for the NT

    DARWIN — "A new era for the territory begins today", proclaimed the August 23 NT News editorial, the day after Chief Minister Denis Burke formally conceded that the 26-year reign of the Country Liberal Party over the Northern

  • Socialist Alliance does well in NT poll

    DARWIN — After 26 years in government, the Country Liberal Party was rocked by a 9% swing against it in the August 18 Northern Territory elections. The final result will not be known for several days, but it is likely that

  • Socialist Alliance opposes CLP's racism

    DARWIN — The Northern Territory Socialist Alliance branch has thrown itself into the August 18 NT elections, using the short election campaign to build opposition to the rampant racism of the Country Liberal Party government.

  • Socialist Alliance to run in NT election

    DARWIN — The Socialist Alliance has decided to run at least three candidates in the Northern Territory elections called for August 18, the alliance's first-ever foray in a state or territory election. Youth worker and