Australia

  • Climate action not hostage to economic crisis

    A public statement endorsed by 40 of Australia’s leading environmental scientists warns that the global economic crisis must not be allowed to detract from action to halt global warming. The letter was published on < http://www.A HREF="mailto:crikey.com.au">crikey.com.au on October 21.

  • Pilbara train drivers escalate campaign

    Train drivers working in Rio Tinto’s Pilbara iron ore division escalated their campaign for a union collective agreement by holding two consecutive 12-hour stoppages starting at midday on October 22.

  • ABCC ups the ante

    The Australian Building and Construction Commission (ABCC) — the secretive body formed by the Howard government in 2005 to police the construction industry — has ratcheted up the use of its compliance powers in the last six months, workplaceexpress.com.au reported on October 20.

  • Victoria University staff to fight mass sackings

    Three hundred and fifty staff at Victoria University held a mass meeting on October 21 to consider industrial action in response to the announcement of a plan to sack more than 250 staff in VU’s Higher Education and TAFE divisions.

  • Resistance activist receives enviro award

    Long-term Resistance activist Leigh Hughes has been recognised by the Australian Capital Territory Conservation Council for his leading role in the Canberra environment movement. The "Leading Light Award" was one of three "Local Hero" awards announced at the Conservation Council's annual fundraising dinner on October 17, and recognises the "most outstanding environmental effort of an individual under the age of 30". Hughes, who is also a member of the Democratic Socialist Perspective, joined Resistance as a high-school student in 1998.

  • Labor turns its back on Aboriginal people

    Federal indigenous affairs minister Jenny Macklin announced on October 23 that the Labor government will not implement the key proposals of the independent review into the Northern Territory intervention. Aboriginal critics have described the decision as the government turning its back on Aboriginal people.

  • Senate passes same-sex parenting rights

    New legislation granting parenting rights to same-sex couples was passed in the Senate in October 16. The legislation grants legal recognition to children of same-sex parents born through IVF or surrogacy.

  • Education for liberation

    A student at a Hobart High School was suspended two weeks ago for dying his hair a bright colour.

  • Hearts beat in the Centre

    On September 30, more than 400 people gathered on the courthouse lawns in Mparntwe-Alice Springs to demand an end to the Northern Territory intervention.

  • Uranium concerns over Yarra dredging

    Environment groups are calling for the dredging of the Yarra River to stop immediately until there has been an investigation into whether there is radioactive waste in sediments of the river.