News

Graham Matthews, Sydney On March 23, Qantas closed its heavy maintenance facility at Mascot, making 480 workers redundant. While the company has promised that it will not outsource maintenance to China, the 140 extra jobs promised for Melbourne and

Lynda Smith In their second week at sea, from the South Bellona Reef 500 miles north-west of Brisbane, the seven-person crew of the Flotillas of Hope expressed their ongoing gratitude to all who continue to support them and their desire to be

#3 SIEV X book launched BRISBANE — The story of SIEV X, the unseaworthy, overcrowded refugee boat that sank in October 2001, drowning some 350 asylum-seekers off the Indonesian coast, involves a "massive Australian government agency cover-up",

Paul Benedek, Brisbane More than 1000 workers from most unions attended a Queensland Council of Unions "Workers' Breakfast" on March 29, to protest against the enactment of the Howard government's Work Choices laws. The crowd heard from former

SYDNEY — On May 20, "Public Education Day", around 60 teachers and supporters of public education rallied outside federal education minister Brendan Nelson's office in Lindfield. The rally, organised by the Middle Harbour Teachers Association of

Band banned for politics HOBART — On August 24, Hobart College band Mr Mukhole played at the school's assembly. Before the band started to play, the lead singer, Bryn Heathwood, explained the band's name and reason for existing. As Heathwood

Niko Leka, Newcastle On March 16, Boeing conceded on three demands made by the Australian Workers Union on behalf of 25 aircraft maintenance workers employed at the company's Williamtown centre. The previous day, the AWU lodged objections with the

Selena Black, Sydney Postal workers across NSW, Victoria and Queensland went on strike for 24 hours on May 13, following the breakdown of negotiations over a new enterprise bargaining agreement (EBA) and Australia Post's unwillingness to accept

Jim McIlroy, Brisbane The Bolivarian revolution in Venezuela is an "unprecedented revolution in participatory democracy", Leonel Vivas, Venezuelan ambassador to Australia, told an audience of around 70 people on August 7. When Hugo Chavez was

1 PSA says 'Put it to a vote!' ADELAIDE — The Public Service Association has called on the South Australian government to put its wage offer for public servants to a vote of employees, after negotiations failed to reach a conclusion. The PSA

Call for ban on steel jaw trapsOn November 13, National Anti-Steel Jaw Trap Day, Animal Rescue called for a total ban on traps and snares in Australia. Such a ban exists in 68 other countries. Current laws in Australia

SYDNEY — On August 3, University of Western Sydney students protested against the increasing course and subject cuts at the university's Bankstown campus. The cuts will affect at least 80% of Bankstown students, and are being implemented to