Action updates
BRISBANE — One hundred students marched through the city on April 7 in protest against inadequate Austudy payments and cutbacks to tertiary education. The rally was organised by the Students Against Cutbacks inter-campus network.
MELBOURNE — The Campaign for Women's Reproductive Rights held a successful counter-demonstration to the Right to Life's "March for Little Feet" here on April 5. The rally was originally called in solidarity with the massive US demonstration in defence of women's right to choose abortion. The march proceeded from the GPO to the American Express Office, where a petition was delivered. It then went to the Aer Lingus office, where speakers talked about the plight of women in Ireland, before going on to the City Square, where the Right to Life march was due to converge. After coming across the pro-choice contingent, the Right to Lifers dispersed.
WOLLONGONG — Libby Eager (pictured), a student from Wollongong University, was one of the speakers at a candlelight vigil of 50 women in the Wollongong Mall on April 9. The vigil was held in solidarity with US women and to highlight the threat to abortion rights in Australia. It was endorsed by community, women's and health organisations as well as the South Coast Labor Council and its women's committee. Other speakers included Dr Anna Vella from the Illawarra Community Women's Health Centre and Lisa Schofield from the Democratic Socialist Party.