September 16, 1992
Issue
ADELAIDE — About 50 people rallied outside the Santos building on September 12 to protest against the South Australian-based oil company's plan to begin drilling operations in the Timor Gap. John Wishart, representing the CFMEU, condemned the ACTU for endorsing the treaty and its promise to prevent any industrial disputes on the Timor Gap oil rigs.
- The Adelaide University Anti-Apathy Collective, a group of students and clubs campaigning around social justice issues, ran a week of activities September 7-11 to encourage a university boycott of Nestle's products. The campaign aimed to raise awareness around the use of Nestle's products in the Third World. Nestle's is notorious for encouraging women in Third World countries to substitute powdered milk for breast milk.
MELBOURNE — Buggers and Dykes (BAD) held a "Wizard of Oz" street party/demo at the GPO on September 5, to highlight the inaction of both major parties on gay law reform. 150 people turned up in pouring rain to watch street theatre and then march up the "yellow brick road" to Parliament House.
- At least 300 people gathered at Parliament House on September 6 as part of a national day of action against rape and sexual assault. Steve Foley from Men Against Sexual Assault (MASA) told the crowd that men have to take responsibility for their own behaviour. John Moran pointed out that 80% of sexual abuse occurs in the home and that 97% of perpetrators are men. He added that although all state MPs had been invited to attend the rally, only three had responded.
- A small group briefly occupied an empty Education Department-owned building on behalf of the People's Committee for Melbourne on September 6. The occupation was held to draw attention to the fact that, while many people are homeless, Melbourne has a glut of empty buildings. People's Committee spokesperson Joan Doyle told Green Left Weekly that there are 2200 empty government buildings. "We'll be back", she said, "because we want to protect our community assets".