News

Hobart rally backs republic

Hobart rally backs republic By Nikki Ulasowskiand Tony Iltis HOBART — Later this year a referendum will be held on whether Australia should become a republic. On January 26, a pro-republic rally held at the state Parliament House Lawns

Waste time bombs for Hunter Valley

Waste time bombs for Hunter Valley By Graham Williams NEWCASTLE — Cessnock City Council was forced to release details of a video promoting the building of a waste dump at Cessnock on December 11. The Council has been investigating building a

WA protests against clear-felling

WA protests against clear-felling By Iggy Kim PERTH — On January 24, 100 people gathered in an area of old-growth forest in the south of Western Australia to protest against clear-felling. Known as the Wattle Forest, the area lies adjacent to

Indonesian Chinese PRD leader visits

Indonesian Chinese PRD leader visits Hendri Kuok, a member of the central leadership council of the Indonesian People's Democratic Party (PRD), ended a one-month visit to Australia on January 30. One of the central purposes of Kuok's visit was to

ACT government to force staff into individual contracts

ACT government to force staff into individual contracts By Stuart Martin CANBERRA — After failing to force certified agreements on workers employed in the Chief Minister's Department, Canberra Hospital and ACT Housing, the ACT Liberal

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

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

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