By Scott MacWilliam A joke doing the rounds in WA sums up the state of work at the old Swan Brewery. Question: "When is a picket line not a picket line?" Answer: "When [state heritage minister] Jim McGinty tells [BLF secretary] Kevin Reynolds
Issue 74
News
Mobilisation for social and economic justice By Peter Boyle MELBOURNE — The first stage of a grand plan to "start a new political movement that will seize the political agenda from the politicians and the media", initiated by Rainbow
Attack on Tas public service By Dave Wright HOBART — In a submission to the State Industrial Commission on public service restructuring, the Tasmanian Liberal government has called for scrapping of paid maternity leave, increasing the
Media award SYDNEY — An article published in Green Left Weekly has made journalist Deborah Singerman a finalist in the NSW Youth Advisory Council's first annual Youth Media Awards. The awards are designed to encourage reporting that
NSW anti-union attack stalls By Bernie Brian WOLLONGONG — The first attempt by the NSW government to charge trade union officials under its new anti-union laws has stalled. South Coast Labour Council secretary Paul Matters and Australian
By Peter Boyle MELBOURNE — The swing against Labor in the October 3 Victorian election was a record 6%. At the close of counting on election night, Jeff Kennett's Liberal-National Coalition had won 61 out of the 92 seats in the Legislative
Candle Day Friday, October 23, is Candle Day — the day on which Amnesty International raises funds to support its humanitarian and human rights activities by selling badges. Amnesty does not seek or accept funds from any government,
By Pip Hinman MELBOURNE — About 200 people attended a three-day Ecopolitics VI conference from September 25. Talks and panels covered a range of topics from environmental philosophy to politics and social movements. Although the attendance
Inquiry called into Joh trial allegations By Bill Mason BRISBANE — A full public inquiry will be held into "extremely serious" allegations about the trial of former Queensland premier Sir Joh Bjelke-Petersen. The Criminal Justice
By Kristian Whittaker CANBERRA — Four Aboriginal activists — Isabel Coe, Harold Williams, Sonya Brown and Ian Williams — were recently convicted but not sentenced on trespassing charges resulting from the 80-strong peaceful occupation of
By Debbie Moon MELBOURNE — Residents in the inner-northern suburb of Preston are opposing an application to expand the Northland shopping centre. They claim the centre already generates too much traffic, leading to excessive noise, air
APPM announces job cuts By Dave Wright LAUNCESTON — Associated Pulp and Paper Mills has announced that it wants to shed 300 jobs from its Burnie and Wesley Vale mills by Christmas. A spokesperson for APPM said it was hopeful of meeting
Arnold plans public service cutbacks ADELAIDE — South Australian Labor Premier Lynn Arnold has heralded a major restructuring of the state public service, including the axing of jobs. One change will be the creation of a new layer of
World
Sources in Indonesia have told the human rights campaign Tapol that eight East Timorese eyewitnesses to the Santa Cruz massacre in November, who have been in hiding in Jakarta since late August, are being hunted down by Indonesian security forces.
Palestinians on hunger strike Palestinian prisoners from major Israeli detention facilities began an indefinite hunger strike on September 27 to protest against deteriorating conditions of detention. The strike was formally announced by
Amnesty calls for inquiry into killing of Kurds Amnesty International has called for an immediate, independent and impartial inquiry into the events in Sirnak between August 18 and 21, when at least 15 civilians, including five children, were killed.
Blockade cost is $40 billion According to Radio Havana, a new study shows Cuba has lost nearly $40 billion since the United States imposed its economic blockade on the island 30 years ago. A report by the Central Planning Board, based on data
By Moyra Ashford Reports of bodies floating in the white Nile, summary executions and widespread torture in the besieged southern Sudan city of Juba, have prompted the human rights organisation, Amnesty International, to launch an emergency
By Norm Dixon Papua New Guinea's Australian-supplied Iroquois combat helicopters and their Australian and New Zealand "civilian" pilots have again been involved in a serious abuse of human rights, the Solomons Star newspaper has revealed. One
By Peter M. Sales No leader ever swept into office on a higher wave of popular support than Corazon Aquino; few ever departed more undone or unsung. The hero of the heady days of People Power presided over a stagnant government and an economy
By Norm Dixon Stung by the almost universal condemnation of the September 7 Ciskei massacre, and widespread scepticism over the South African government's claim to be uninvolved, Pretoria has been forced to meet several key demands of the
The US Congress tightened the economic stranglehold on Cuba on September 24 when it approved legislation designed to close loopholes in the 30-year blockade. Presented by Democrat Robert Torricelli and dubbed the "Democracy for Cuba Act", the bill
Israeli Women in Black: end the occupation [This article appeared in the (northern) autumn issue of Women in Black newsletter, published in Jerusalem.] Today, as during the last five years, Women in Black continue to demonstrate. Today, more
New independence group in Kanaky A new movement has been formed to achieve New Caledonia's independence from France. The Congress Populaire — the Popular Congress of the Kanak People — was launched after a two-day meeting on the eastern
Culture
By Karen Fredericks SYDNEY — Central Australian band Amunda launched Larrikin Records' release of their second album, Civilised World, at the Rose Shamrock and Thistle Hotel on September 30. Despite a slow start, foldback problems and some
Suspense from Slovo The Betrayal By Gillian Slovo Virago. 313 pp. $12.95 Reviewed by Stephen Robson After reading Slovo's Ties of Blood last year it was with anticipation I pounced on her next novel. Like Ties of Blood, this is set in
Bongo Fury By Scott Lewington MELBOURNE — Top Australian percussionist Ray Pereira has assembled some of the city's finest young percussionists to produce a delicious taste of Cuba. Basing itself on Afro-Cuban rhythms and chants such as
By Karen Fredericks The commercial oligopoly which has been maintained in Australian TV broadcasting since 1956 may soon be dented by community TV groups, finally allowed access to the sixth and final high power channel. The report of the
The Cafe of the Gate of Salvation COTGOS through Larrikin Records Available on CD and cassette Reviewed by Norm Dixon The Cafe of the Gate of the Salvation, a huge a cappella choir (no less than 27 people are pictured on the CD cover!) which
By Loretta Asquini and Katrina Newton Lucky Dube and his band gave an uplifting and high- energy performance at the Melbourne Palace on September 29. This band gives its all! Even if you're not a reggae lover, you can't fail to enjoy this
Editorial
Labor punished Now that Victorian Labor's calamitous 10-year rein is over, what are the lessons that need to be drawn from the experience? A big proportion of Victorian voters justifiably chose to punish the Labor Party for the disastrous