Kangaroo '95 protest
@9point = ADELAIDE — Forty people took part in a protest on July 29 against the Kangaroo '95 war games currently under way in the north of Australia. Organised by the Campaign for an Independent East Timor (SA), the action highlighted the increasing militarisation in the region at the expense of human rights, self-determination and democracy. The exercise includes military personnel from Australia, the US, Britain, Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Singapore and Malaysia.
@9point = Speakers from CIET, Bougainville Support Group, Aksi and Resistance condemned the Australian government for spending millions of dollars on Kangaroo '95 and its cooperation with defence forces well known for their human rights abuses.
Students heckle Kennett
@9point = MELBOURNE — About 100 students drowned out Jeff Kennett at Melbourne University on July 25 when he attempted to address a 500-strong public meeting organised by the Liberal Students Club. Students unfurled a banner listing Kennett's attacks on students and the community and stating "stick your reform agenda where it fits" and chanted "Kennett off campus" and "VSU is no choice; it takes away students' voice" until police violently removed the megaphone. The protesters continued to heckle Kennett as he delivered his speech on technology and economic reform.
Anti-woodchip protest
@9point = GEELONG — Around 150 people (seven of whom were arrested) attended an anti-woodchipping protest on July 22 at the Midway Woodchip Mill at Corio Bay. The action was organised by the Wilderness Society, Friends of the Earth Forest Network and Environment Victoria in opposition to the renewal of woodchipping licences, scheduled for August, and to highlight Midway's role in the destruction of high conservation value forests.
Campaign against WA bills
@9point = PERTH — A fiery meeting on July 25 of about 250 trade unionists representing most of the unions affiliated to the WA Trades and Labour Council resolved to launch an ongoing campaign against the state government's proposed industrial relations legislation, which directly attacks the democratic rights of workers in WA.
The union campaign will seek community support and will include industrial action and a march and rally at Parliament House on August 22. The meeting resolved to recommend to all unions that they call a 24-hour stoppage on the same day.
Nuclear protests to continue
@9point = SYDNEY — The Campaign Against Nuclear Testing (CANT), which organised the 30,000-strong Bastille Day demonstration, is starting work on organising a mass protest rally for September 2 to coincide with the French government's plans to start nuclear testing at Moruroa atoll.
@9point = The September 2 action will meet at 1pm at First Fleet Park Circular Quay, and march via several French armaments companies before stopping at the French consulate. CANT meets at 7pm on Wednesdays at 499 Elizabeth St, Surry Hills. For more information, phone 690 1977.