Asylum seekers protest
Asylum seekers at the remote Woomera detention centre in outback South Australia have launched a peaceful protest, demanding to be released. Several hundred men, women and children gathered on April 7 near the razor-wire fences surrounding the centre, chanting "Freedom! Freedom!".
According to official figures, 1288 asylum seekers, mostly from Afghanistan and Iraq, are being held there in conditions the human rights and equal opportunities commissioner has described as sub-standard.
March to support Chechnya
MELBOURNE — Two thousand people staged a vocal protest here on April 2 against the massacre of Chechen people by the Russian military.
The protest, organised by the Caucus Chechen Support Group, attracted a significant turnout from Melbourne's Islamic community, but also involved many other community groups. Nuriya Salehi, a representative of Amnesty International, told the crowd that a key battle was against ignorance and silence on Chechnya, a point emphasised by the establishment media blackout on the rally.
The protest organisers are planning more initiatives to put Chechnya on the political agenda. For more information, call Ahsen Ilhan on (03) 9308 7181 or email <Chechen_supp@hotmail.com>.
Stop nuclear-powered Howard!
MELBOURNE — Environmentalists and anti-nuclear campaigners plan to confront John Howard at a Liberal Party conference in Melbourne on April 14.
The environmental direct action group Earth First! Melbourne says it plans to "crash their little party" to protest against Liberal Party support for "an explosive growth in this country's nuclear industry".
The protest is planned to begin at the Convention Centre on the corner of Spencer Street and Flinders Street at 11.30am on April 14. Another anti-nuclear rally will be held outside the Convention Centre at 10am on April 16, Palm Sunday.
Rally opposes road through bushland
CANBERRA — A planned four-lane road through native bushland on O'Connor Ridge has provoked much opposition, including a 400-strong rally, organised by the group Save the Ridge, outside the ACT Legislative Assembly on April 7.
Philippa Roland from the O'Connor Ridge Park Care Group warned that the road would fragment the estimated 27.8 hectares of bushland and undermine its ecosystem.
Save the Ridge spokesperson Greg Tanner said that of 500 submissions to a public consultation, 97% were against the planned road but the territory government had "studiously ignored logical arguments".
Teachers impose work bans
BRISBANE — Queensland state school teachers imposed work bans from April 10 as part of the Queensland Teachers Union's (QTU) long-running enterprise bargaining campaign for better pay and conditions.
Teachers are seeking an 8% annual pay rise, as well as a 5% one-off bonus for new teachers, deputy principals, heads of departments and principals of smaller schools. The state government has offered a 3% annual pay rise for all teachers.
QTU president Julie-Ann McCullough said on April 4 that the bans had won 89% support in a state-wide ballot of teachers. "Teachers want nothing to do with the government's flimsy proposal, and have moved into full campaign mode", she said.
Ireland group condemns police harassment
SYDNEY — Irish solidarity group Australian Aid for Ireland has condemned as heavy-handed and outrageous police actions against its members during a March 20 protest at the official Opera House welcome ceremony for the queen.
The group says that a dozen members and supporters were threatened with arrest if they didn't surrender banners and signs protesting against British rule in Northern Ireland.
Police succeeded in confiscating the banners and signs within a few minutes. The placards were destroyed but the banners were returned to protest organisers after the queen's departure for Darling Harbour.
When challenged, one police officer confirmed that he had received orders that "no material on Northern Ireland is permitted here today".