News

Students prepare to fight VSU

By Wendy Robertson Sydney — On January 17-18, around 150 students, a number of academics and staff gathered at the University of Technology Sydney for an anti-VSU ("voluntary student unionism") planning conference. The conference adopted four

National Action is racist, court rules

National Action is racist, court rules By Jessica Rose ADELAIDE — The leader of National Action, Michael Brander, has lost a defamation action after a magistrate ruled that he is a racist. Brander's claim for damages over a 1995 column by

Campaign against VSU debated

By Kylie Moon and Mark Abberton MELBOURNE — On January 18, Victoria's Student Unionism Network (SUN) met. More than 40 student activists from a wide range of Victorian universities and National Union of Students (NUS) state and national

Lucas Heights EIS released

Lucas Heights EIS released By Jim Green SYDNEY — On January 18, the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) released the final environmental impact statement on a new nuclear reactor in the southern Sydney suburb of Lucas

Injury highlights mine safety crisis

Injury highlights mine safety crisis By Bill Mason BRISBANE — On January 20, mining apprentice Brant North had both legs amputated in a horrific accident at MIM's Oaky Creek mine, about 350 kilometres north-west of Rockhampton. North is in a

Tamils protest Sri Lankan minister's visit

Tamils protest Sri Lankan minister's visit By Jon Singer CANBERRA — Australian Tamils and their supporters from Canberra, Melbourne and Sydney protested outside the Sri Lankan embassy and National Press Club on January 22. About 150 protesters

IWD: 'Women and workers united'

IWD: 'Women and workers united' IWD: 'Women and workers united' By Margarita Windisch MELBOURNE — The International Women's Day Collective has decided that this year's theme will be "Women and workers of the world united in action". The day's

Pakistan socialist speaks

Pakistan socialist speaks CANBERRA — Farooq Tariq, secretary of the Labour Party of Pakistan, was the guest speaker at a Green Left Weekly public meeting, "The struggle for people's democracy and nationhood in South Asia", on January 14. Farooq

One Nation MP in row over CJC

One Nation MP in row over CJC By Bill Mason BRISBANE — Queensland One Nation MP Jack Paff has pledged to introduce bills to abolish the Criminal Justice Commission and its parliamentary watchdog, the Parliamentary Criminal Justice Committee.

Mine owners ravage West Coast Tasmania

Mine owners ravage West Coast Tasmania By Dave Andrews ROSEBERY — Three of West Coast Tasmania's major mines are facing bleak prospects as management and financial backers threaten mass sackings, back-breaking roster changes and possible

MUA rank and file group grows

MUA rank and file group grows PERTH — On January 18, the Western Australian Maritime Union of Australia rank-and-file group held a successful general meeting at the Buffalo Club in Fremantle. The turnout of 80 members was double the inaugural

Textile workers force company to talk

Textile workers force company to talk By Susan Price and Chris Slee MELBOURNE After 50 days of being locked out, members of the Textile, Clothing and Footwear Union (TCFUA) at the Australian Dyeing Company (ADC) have won a couple of victories in