Rape Crisis Centre to close
By Melanie Sjoberg
ADELAIDE — Workers at the Rape Crisis Centre learned of its end in a blunt fax from the minister for family and community services, Martin Evans, on May 12. The centre will be amalgamated
Issue 100
News
Joh jury inquiry focuses on investigator
By Bill Mason
BRISBANE — The spotlight in the ongoing Criminal Justice Commission inquiry into the selection of the jury in the 1991 Joh Bjelke-Petersen corruption trial has now turned to legal
Nurses impose bans
By Di Quin
MELBOURNE — Nurses at Western General have imposed bans on elective admissions and internal transfer of patients due to an increasing strain on midwifery staffing levels.
The closure of the midwifery
The North East Forest Alliance is calling for a full investigation into the operations of the NSW north coast woodchipping company, Sawmillers Exports Pty Ltd, a subsidiary of Boral Timbers P/L, following the revelation that the company has
Free speech campaign widens
By Maurice Sibelle
BRISBANE — The campaign for free speech in the Queen Street Mall is gaining support against Lord Mayor Jim Soorley's attempt to further restrict the right of peaceful assembly.
Support
Risks
People with asbestos material in their housing are at risk of contracting an asbestos-related disease. These diseases include:
Asbestosis. Fibres lodge in the lungs, causing a scar which continues to grow even though there may be no
Logging destroys rare possum habitat
By Bronwen Beechey
MELBOURNE — Conservationists have expressed outrage over the destruction of a prime habitat of one of Victoria's rarest mammals, the Leadbeater's possum.
Two weeks ago,
Sacrifice
While the ACTU is determined to sacrifice wages for the sake of "the economy", some of the highest salary earners in the country don't have the same approach to their incomes. Victorian Premier Jeff Kennett (on $131,771 a year, plus
Port Macquarie hospital dispute in court
By Anne Casey
The Port Macquarie Hospital Action Group was caught off guard on May 6 when bulldozers and other heavy machinery began clearing the site of the controversial new private hospital for
Rolling stoppages to protest Kennett cuts
By Di Quin
MELBOURNE — State public sector unions will begin an industrial action campaign throughout Victoria from May 17 in response to the Kennett government's vicious funding cuts,
By Peter Boyle
On May 13 the ACTU executive rejected a call by several unions covering low-paid workers for a national wage claim of $8 per week for workers who had not managed to strike enterprise bargains with their employers.
ACTU
Gay man murdered in Adelaide
By Alison Dellit
ADELAIDE — A homosexual man was murdered here last week, exactly 21 years after the infamous drowning of Dr George Duncan.
Duncan, a gay professor at Adelaide University, was bashed and
By Martin O'Byrne
MELBOURNE — A legal firm here is planning to take action against the state Ministry of Housing over the death of a public tenant from an asbestos-related disease.
Last September 10, Doreen Porter died from mesothelioma
World
By Helen Jarvis
With barely a week left before the Cambodian elections (scheduled for May 23 to 27), the Khmer Rouge are escalating their acts of terror in an attempt to disrupt the polls — if possible to have them cancelled or at least to
Language dispute in Xanana trial
By Jana D.K.
Jakarta — Proceedings in the trial of Fretilin leader Xanana Gusmao resumed May 12 after a week's delay while the Dili court attempted to resolve the question of Xanana's defence
By Norm Dixon
A firm date for South Africa's first non-racial general election is to be set by June 3. After a week of discussions beginning on April 30, representatives of South Africa's key 26 political organisations agreed that a
Tongan democrats seek support
Leading Tongan democracy activist Akilisi Pohiva has indicated that the pro-democracy movement is changing its strategy.
Pohiva said on April 28 that, instead of pushing for more democracy solely from within
President's hand in his own assassination
By S. Piyasena
Sri Lanka, where violence has become the rule rather than the exception, has created another record by assassinating the president and his principal rival within just eight days.
By Max Lane
The recent struggle in Jakarta over vice-presidential, cabinet and military positions has provided a chance for liberal reformist critics of the regime also to obtain media coverage for their criticisms of authoritarianism and
Anti-union laws retained
Fiji's finance minister, Paul Manueli, says the country's controversial labour reforms will not be revoked. The laws, introduced by the previous interim government in 1991, severely curtail trade union rights.
By Renfrey Clarke
MOSCOW — Police on May 9 were unable to stop more than 50,000 opposition demonstrators from marching through the centre of the Russian capital and onto symbolically important Red Square.
Built around the anniversary of
By Renfrey Clarke
MOSCOW — To the puzzlement of many observers, Russian President Boris Yeltsin during the first weeks after his April 25 referendum held off introducing the "tough measures" through which he had promised to "neutralise" the
On February 26, 1991 more than 700 gold mine workers at Vatoukoula, Fiji, downed tools and threatened never to return to work unless the Australian and New Zealand mine management recognised their union and negotiated on their claims. Twenty-seven
Culture
Power to the people
By Michael Tardif
"Power to the people!", fists raised, sounded a crowd of 10,000 as Arrested Development led the chant which opened their second Sydney concert.
Let it rain, take my pain, I'm glad to meet you
Different traditions, and why don't we know anything?
Asia Music
Various
Celestial Harmonies through Larrikin Records
Available on CD
Reviewed by Mina O'Shea
After passing through the hands of many people who felt they couldn't
By Karen Fredericks
The 40th Sydney film festival was launched by George Miller on May 4. In his speech, Miller credited the festival with providing the vital inspiration for himself and the whole "first wave" of Australian film makers.
Change for Sixpence
Where Sixpence Lives
By Norma Kitson
London: Chatto and Windus. 1986. 350 pp.
Reviewed by Connie Frazer
Not a new book, but one you can't put down. The intriguing title caught my eye as I entered the Adelaide
Groove to a new style
Earth and Sun and Moon
Midnight Oil
Reviewed by Paul Boundy
The latest studio release from Australia's most public political band lacks the aggressive punch between the eyes the Oils are well known for. What
Federal Parliament
Theatre review by Max Lane
Readers may or may not be aware that the seat of government and assembly of representatives of the people — i.e. the new parliament — was sworn in and began sitting last month. "Sitting" —
Someone's going to get hurt ...
Dead Lines
Written by Kate Gillick
Directed by Robin Laurie
Performed by Stephen Burton, David Joseph, Lisa Small and Phil Sumner
Musicians: Shirley Billing, Rachel Cogan and Irine Vela
At the
The Best of Mahlathini and the Mahotella Queens
Dolphin through BMG
Rhythm of Healing
West Nkosi
Earthworks/Virgin through Larrikin Records
Favourites
Ladysmith Black Mambazo
Dolphin through BMG
Reviewed by Norm Dixon
Through Aboriginal Eyes
By Anne Pattel-Grey
Geneva: WCC Publications, 1991. 159 pp.
Reviewed by Annolise Truman
This book, which details Aboriginal experience, much of it traumatic and death-dealing, not only presents historical and
Passion Fish
Written and directed by John Sayles
Starring Mary McDonnell and Alfre Woodard
Reviewed by Lee Wallace
The critics' pull quotes used to promote Passion Fish, the new film from the New York-based independent writer/director
Edge of insanity
A festival of seriously psycho late shows
Kino, Melbourne till July 11
Previewed by Mario Giorgetti
Had a rotten day? Mad as hell in a heatwave? Don't throw a fit. This series, which includes some of the great "crazies"
Apartheid
Two part special on SBS Television screening Sunday, May 23, and May 30, 8.30 p.m. (8 p.m. Adelaide)
Previewed by Norm Dixon
This French-produced two-hour documentary starkly recounts the evolution of one of this century's most
Editorial
An invitation
Nearly two years ago, on the occasion of Green Left's 20th issue, we commented:
"When the idea for this newspaper was first floated more than a year ago, no-one could be sure whether it was a goer or a pipedream. Would it