BRISBANE — Anti-nuclear activists here gathered outside the French consulate on August 23 to demand an end to nuclear testing in the Pacific by Bastille Day (July 14) 1992. The group resolved to return to the consulate every Friday from 8 to 10 a.m. and 4 to 6 p.m. for an ongoing "infectious plague of pressure". The members and supporters of Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth and other groups are calling their campaign "Le Humble Rumble". For more information, contact PO Box 10159 Adelaide Street, Brisbane 4001
Dirty tactics emerged in the University of Queensland student union elections when several teams, including the Australian Democrats and Save Our Services, found that they couldn't use their own names because someone else had beaten them to it. Issues in this year's elections will include security on campus, overcrowding, defence of student services and moves towards privatisation of union services. The Students Against Cuts team is the only one with comprehensive policy on all these issues.
A giant effigy of a Newstart contract was burned to the applause of 200 protesters at a rally organised by the Newstart Opposition Group on budget night. Since its first public forum to discuss the Newstart legislation in July, NOG has organised stalls and handed out leaflets at DSS and CES offices, as well as attending forums for welfare groups and public servants. Future events include a road show, which it is hoped will reach out to the unemployed in outer city and rural regions. Phil Winn from NOG also addressed a Democratic Socialist Party forum on Newstart. NOG meets every Friday night at West End Community House, 4 Norfolk St. Phone 844 9814 or 846 2114.
NEWCASTLE — For the third Wednesday in a row, workers here rallied on August 21 for retention of local services. After gatherings of 10,000 and 5000, 1000 turned out for last week's protest, timed to coincide with statewide rallies organised by the NSW Labor Council. Another big turnout is expected on August 29 to support a community and trade union picket outside Wallsend Hospital. According to Newcastle Trades Hall Council secretary Peter Barrack, the picket will "prevent any action which would disrupt the ability of Wallsend hospital to provide quality health care". Wallsend is due for closure at the end of the month. Trades Hall is investigating the possibility of holding a people's inquiry into the closure.
SYDNEY — Men against rape and sexual abuse are planning a national day of protest on August 31, with actions planned so far for Sydney, Melbourne, Perth and Adelaide. Sydney protesters will meet at 11 a.m. at the University of Technology on Broadway for a march to a picnic at Hyde Park South. The Perth
march will begin at The Esplanade at 11 a.m. and finish at the Amphitheatre outside Alexander Library. For more information contact Sydney Men's Network, c/- Paul Whyte, PO Box 125 St Peters 2044 phone (02) 550 4053, fax 519 8614.