Yet another round of changes to entry requirements for immigrants has reaffirmed the Coalition government's commitment to ensuring that business gets the migrant labour it needs without taking on any of the cost of settling the
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US agency bows to pressure on organic standards After receiving more than 200,000 comments from farmers, environmentalists, consumers and others, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced that it is backing down on proposed national organic
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MUA-Patrick deal: a great struggle faces betrayal By Dick Nichols The draft terms of settlement of the dispute between the Maritime Union of Australia and Patrick Stevedores, released last week on the Age's web page, raise three
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Our mutual friend Pray cast your eye across the street. Our mutual friend with the cap. Going down to lay a little something on the TAB unless I'm very much mistaken. I have often seen you chatting with him. And I'll bet you a dollar he talks
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The following is abridged from Cuban President FIDEL CASTRO's speech to the World Health Organisation in Geneva on May 14, when he was presented with the WHO's Health for All medal. The world economy grew six-fold and the production of wealth and
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Contracting dirty business on NSW railways By Peter Perkins In January, the NSW branch of the Public Transport Union distributed a bulletin warning that the state rail system was under threat from privatisation. Under the Hilmer
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Concern about genetically modified foods in Australia is growing, despite the predictable messages being conveyed by the media. Modified foods now include Australian-grown cottonseed oil and imported canola oil, maize, tomato,
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In the coming federal elections, the Democratic Socialists will be fielding candidates in all major cities. Green Left Weekly spoke to Peter Boyle, the Democratic Socialists' national election campaign director, about the vote for Pauline Hanson's
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Campaign building Paul Petit (GLW #321) provides little detail in his letter implying a "lack of activity" by the Democratic Socialist Party in building campaigns. When he opens the GLW that arrives in his mail each week, does he notice the
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How much did you contribute, as pure gift, to business last year? The exact answer depends on where you live, but wherever you live, it was a substantial amount. You don't remember a business person, dressed in rags, knocking on your
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The voice of God By Brandon Astor Jones "You tell me whar a man gits his corn pone, en I'll tell you what his 'pinions is." — Jerry The words above were spoken by a slave named Jerry. When Mark Twain listened, Jerry often shared his
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Industrial awards to be gutted By James Vassilopoulos From July 1, all industrial awards (which specify working conditions and wage rates) will be stripped to the bone. The regulation of working conditions will be reduced to 20 items
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A road worker, who voted for One Nation in north Queensland, told the Australian that he had formerly been a "red hot Labor supporter" until "Paul Keating brought in enterprise bargaining agreements", which resulted in road crews
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Against the wishes of the traditional owners, the Mirrar people, and against the wishes of 80% of Australians, Energy Resources of Australia (ERA) began construction of the Jabiluka uranium mine in Kakadu National Park on June 15. Just a few days
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Right-wing women Whether we like it or not — and we definitely don't — Pauline Hanson is making political history. Her media-enhanced image as the ordinary "fish and chip shop lady" who dared to speak her mind, challenge the major
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The success of Pauline Hanson and her One Nation party in the Queensland elections has "stunned" and "surprised" many political commentators in the establishment press. They are now busy condemning Hanson because of the "divisiveness" she fosters and
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A fight is shaping up over the amount of toxic mercury that the US government will call "safe" in the human diet. The outcome will determine how strictly the government will control mercury emissions from incinerators,
News
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Abortion rights pamphlet launchedMELBOURNE The new Resistance Books pamphlet, Abortion: A woman's right, the case for law repeal, was launched here on June 12 at the Resistance Bookshop. The 50 people who attended heard Lynette
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Vigils against N-weapons CANBERRA — The embassies and high commissions of the eight countries that have tested nuclear weapons or are known to possess them have been targeted by vigils here. The vigils are organised by a coalition of local peace
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SYDNEY — Members of the NSW Teachers Federation held two-hour stop-work meetings on June 17 to protest against the Howard government's promotion of private schools over the public school system. Concerned parent
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Fight to save Mullumbimby hospital By Kathy O'Driscoll MULLUMBIMBY — More than 1000 people attended a public meeting and rally against the closure of the Mullumbimby and District Hospital here on June 18. The meeting was organised by the
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MELBOURNE — The One Nation party here is attempting to step up its activity and profile. New state convener Robyn Spencer is well qualified for the job, with over a decade's experience campaigning against migrants in the group
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Borbidge seeks deal with HansonBRISBANE — The National-Liberal Coalition is desperately seeking to cling to power in Queensland, despite almost universal condemnation from every direction. Even the head of the Queensland
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Fight for free speech in AdelaideADELAIDE — Green Left Weekly is under attack here. The city council will not allow GLW to be distributed in the mall without a permit. The permit will cost $10 per week per distributor. The council
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Forerunner "A lot of the things I'm saying on immigration [John Howard] said in 1988, and he is trying to do something about Wik and native title." — Pauline Hanson. Different "People do not spend $3 million on a watch to tell the time.
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More uranium mines for SAADELAIDE — Australia's uranium industry is to be boosted with the planned expansion of the Beverley and Honeymoon "trial" mines in South Australia. Southern Cross Resources (SCR) plans to open a new mine at
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By Tim E. Stewart BRISBANE — A lively public speak-out against the racist and reactionary policies of One Nation was held here on June 19. The Democratic Socialists' action in busy Queen Street Mall was the first community response to the
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WA prison reform 'too little, too late' By Sean Martin-Iverson PERTH — Earlier this month, WA justice minister Peter Foss announced a new suicide prevention strategy, the first acknowledgment by the government that there is a problem in WA's
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Protest against Burnie mill closure ROSEBERY — On the morning of June 15, around 1000 people gathered in Civic Square to protest against the proposed closure of the Burnie pulp mill, which will mean up to 280 job losses. The march, led by four
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Doctors' dispute enters second weekCANBERRA — A dispute involving the ACT's visiting medical officers (VMOs) has entered its second week. The dispute has forced the closure of the two public surgical wards at Calvary Hospital.
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ASIET forum CANBERRA — On June 17, 50 people attended a forum organised by Action in Solidarity with Indonesia and East Timor at the Australian National University. ASIET national secretary Max Lane, recently returned from Indonesia, spoke on the
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Building workers strike against award strippingThe construction industry was halted by a 24-hour national strike on June 15 to protest against the award stripping provisions of the Workplace Relations Act. The strike went ahead
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Correction In our June 3 issue, a report on a speech by Jose Ramos Horta at the University of NSW on May 25 said that the meeting was organised by the Amnesty club of UNSW. In fact, the meeting was organised by Catholics in Coalition for Justice
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Anti-Jabiluka mine activists take action The campaign to stop Energy Resources of Australia's construction of another uranium mine at Jabiluka is gathering momentum around the country. In Brisbane, reports Sam Wainwright, 100 people gathered
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'Nationalise the banks', say socialistsBRISBANE — "The answer to Pauline Hanson's right-wing populist policies is not to reaffirm the failed 'economic rationalist' program of the major parties, but to launch a socialist
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DARWIN — Members of the NT Pro Choice Collective on June 12 presented local ALP MP Claire Martin with a petition containing almost 1000 signatures supporting the removal of abortion from the NT criminal code. The collective
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NSW public servants win pay dealOn June 17, the Public Service Association executive lifted the bans imposed by statewide stop-works the Friday before, after the government offered to negotiate on a promised 4% pay rise. Two days
Analysis
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A new stage in the fight for East Timor's independence has begun with a wave of militant protests by Timorese youth and students. Since June 2, thousands of activists have joined almost daily protest
World
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RAMALLAH — An international conference in Jerusalem on June 7-10 commemorated 50 years of dispossession of the Palestinian people. The conference overwhelmingly rejected the Oslo accords and discussed the
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Following the election of a record number of radical left and ultra-right candidates in the March regional elections in France, Green Left Weekly's LISA MACDONALD spoke to PIERRE ROUSSET, a veteran socialist activist and editor of Rouge, the
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Serbian troops in the occupied region of Kosovo are carrying out ethnic cleansing on a scale not seen since the war in Bosnia. Villages have been bombed by helicopters, fighter planes and heavy artillery or completely burnt,
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We were tortured, democracy activist reportsOn June 13, three leaders of Indonesia's outlawed People's Democratic Party (PRD) were released from custody. They were Mugianto (who visited Australia in 1996 under the name Robby
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Speaking in Belfast shortly before the Labour Party won the UK general election last year, Tony Blair declared, "I believe in the United Kingdom. I value the union" between Britain and Northern Ireland. Within this framework, on
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A dream come true The following is abridged from a piece by Melbourne-based East Timorese writer ELIZEBETE LIM GOMES, which she read at an Indonesian cultural night in Melbourne on June 12. "Reformasi!", the Indonesian students chanted in the
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OAU votes to ease sanctions on Libya Despite criticism by the United Nations, the 34th summit of the Organisation of African Unity, meeting in the Burkina Faso capital, Ougadougou, decided on June 10 to lift partially the UN-imposed economic
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Eight governments issue nuclear declaration An initiative on nuclear disarmament was launched jointly on June 9 by the governments of Brazil, Egypt, Ireland, Mexico, New Zealand, Slovenia, South Africa and Sweden. The joint declaration, titled
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Oil workers' union leaders Milton Dabibi and Frank Kokori were among nine prominent political prisoners ordered released by the new Nigerian military strongman, General Abdulsalam Abubakar, on June 16. Others to be released include
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Auto workers take on GMOn June 5, the United Auto Workers (UAW) struck in a General Motors factory in Flint, Michigan. The factory stamps sheet metal into car and truck body parts used in GM assembly plants. Six days later,
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Biwater, the huge British-owned corporation that has been named the "preferred bidder" for the Nelspruit's water and waste services, in South Africa's Mpumalanga province, is threatening legal action against opponents of privatisation
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East Timor protests June 2 — 1500 students take part in a free-speech assembly at the University of East Timor, despite attempts by the university rector to prevent it. June 3 — 253 prisoners in Becora Jail in Dili begin an indefinite hunger
Culture
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Cultural Battles: the meaning of the Viet Nam-USA warBy Peter McGregorScam Publications — 1998, 214 pp., $16.95 (pb) Review by Brendan Doyle As a contemporary of Peter McGregor who, like him, was first politicised by the Vietnam War, I welcome
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Rory all over Lullabies for Big BabiesRory McLeodCooking Vinyl (through Festival) Review by Alex Bainbridge Rory McLeod is a British folk singer/songwriter who seems to have tried his hand at just about every form of live entertainment around.
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Waiting for the BarbariansBy Lewis LaphamVerso, 1997, 230 pp., $39.95 (hb) Review by Phil Shannon "Satire is humour sent on a moral errand." So writes Lewis Lapham, editor of Harper's Magazine, whose new collection of essays is a welcome revelation
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Folk that gives hope Freddie's DaughterMargaret BradfordSend $20 (CD) or $10 (cassette) to 12 Naranga Ave, Engadine NSW 2233Ph (02) 9520 6180 Review by Barry Healy Plain speaking can often be the best way of communicating your thoughts and
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Benefit gig for Indonesian prisoners BRISBANE — The fall of Suharto and his replacement by B.J. Habibie, while not representing fundamental democratic change in Indonesia, have led to the release of a small number of political prisoners. Despite
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A child's question about abolishing native title What did you do Daddy to assist John Howard's ethnic cleansing? Did you just go around: donging dagos bashing boongs wacking wogs and slashing slopes? Mr. Brown was a Storm Trooper
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Coward's Way Your demands for justicefall to the ground at my feetMy ears are deaf to your criesfor profit must come before people— it's a simple factof my political life!I will not utter an apology— to do so would admit to guiltfor although I
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The Dark Side of CamelotBy Seymour HershHarperCollins, 1998. 498 pp., $22.95 (pb) Review by Phil Shannon On the day that John F. Kennedy was assassinated in November 1963, a CIA officer was handing a poisoned pen to a Cuban exile in Paris to
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Double DisillusionWritten and performed by Rod QuantockMelbourne Trades Hall — Wednesday to Saturday, 8pm, until at least July 11 Review by Bronwen Beechey Recently, comedian Rod Quantock was interviewed for the Australian newspaper. At the end
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The JourneyMaryam MursalReal World through Festival Review by Norm Dixon With this album, Maryam Mursal takes her place amongst the great contemporary women singers from Africa, such as Miriam Makeba, Angelique Kidjo and Oumou Sangare. Mursal, who