Charges against unionist dropped
CANBERRA — On September 1, charges of criminal damage to Parliament House were dropped at the Canberra Magistrates Court against CFMEU Adelaide organiser Davie Thomason. The charges arose from the ACTU rally on August 19, 1996, when more than 25,000 unionists, students and activists demonstrated against the austerity measures and anti-union policies of the Howard government.
Thomason was found guilty of two lesser charges, trespass and being in possession of a police riot shield. Outside the court, Thomason stated that the result was "terrific" and that the outcome would not diminish his union activism.