News

'Australian government owes East Timor'

By Nick Everett and Mike Byrne BRISBANE — An interview with jailed Indonesian trade unionist Dita Sari, filmed secretly at Jakarta's Tangerang women's prison in August, was shown here on February 20. A documentary, Bitter Paradise, by Canadian

Kurdish community protests Ocalan's imprisonment

By Chris Latham SYDNEY — More than 500 people attended a lively protest against the abduction and imprisonment of Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Ocalan on February 23. The protesters included Kurds from Iran, Syria, Turkey, Iraq

Anti-racists protest tying up of migrants

Anti-racists protest tying up of migrants By Peter Waits YDNEY — On February 22, the Democratic Socialists and Resistance organised a demonstration to condemn the recent arrest and roping up of "illegal immigrants" in Victoria (see article page

Truss picketed at Centrelink

Truss picketed at Centrelink By Bill Mason BRISBANE — Around 20 members of the Community and Public Sector Union and their supporters picketed the Centrelink Brisbane Call Centre on February 23 to protest against the presence there of Warren

Adams welcomed in Australia

By Dave Riley BRISBANE — According to Brisbane's Courier-Mail, when Gerry Adams entered the civic reception organised in his honour by Mayor Jim Soorley his "welcome was more befitting a rock star than a politician at City Hall, with the crowd

University staff strike

By Tyrion Perkins SYDNEY — Staff at the University of Sydney held a strike on March 1, the first day of classes, over enterprise bargaining. Management has proposed a wage rise of just 1.75%, way below the inflation rate, and wants numerous

Tent Embassy ceremonial fire desecrated

By Kim Bullimore CANBERRA — On the orders of parliamentary officials, federal police again attacked a peaceful protest by members of the Aboriginal Tent Embassy on the lawns of Parliament House on February 15. Police violently wrenched spears,

Forests become an election issue

Forests become an election issue By Simon Kenny On February 16, the Sydney Morning Herald reported that the wood supply guaranteed by the National Parks and Forestry Estate Act (1998) for the next 20 years is to be reviewed by the NSW Audit

Support grows for sacked Gordonstone miners

By Paul Glenning ROCKHAMPTON — The 17-month dispute at Gordonstone mine in central Queensland has escalated over the past two weeks as the new owner, Rio Tinto, has attempted to bus non-union labour onto the mine site. Meeting them every

Liberals attempt to buy NSW votes

Liberals attempt to buy NSW votes By Marina Carman SYDNEY — Vote Liberal and get $1000 (or $1100 in shares). Sound too good to be true? It is. Electricity privatisation will be a big issue in the Liberals' campaign for the March 27 NSW

Protest against parallel runway

Protest against parallel runway By Robyn Marshall BRISBANE — The peace and quiet of the tree-lined streets and coffee shops of suburban Bulimba were disturbed on February 14, when 4000 people marched down the hill to demonstrate against the

NSW Coalition: coy or sneaky?

NSW Coalition: coy or sneaky? By Dick Nichols SYDNEY — Since before Christmas, NSW Liberal leader Kerry Chikarovski has been saying her industrial relations policy would not be released for "another couple of weeks". Nationals' leader George