News

Saddam-lite I "[US-appointed Iraqi prime minister Iyad] Allawi was a Baathist, and his vision for Iraq almost seems like Saddam-lite or neo-Saddam in the sense that he believes in a strong central government and a large army which would also

Sarah Stephen, Sydney Following Easter protest actions at Woomera and Baxter detention centres in 2002 and 2003, refugee activists from around the country will this year converge on Prime Minister John Howard's Sydney residence, Kirribilli House.

BRISBANE — On March 23, students at Griffith University's Nathan campus discussed the fight against the Howard government's new industrial relations laws. Organised by the Education Action Group (EAG), the forum was addressed by Ron Edwards, the

Graham Matthews, Sydney Along with the Howard government's Work Choices Bill, draft laws have been introduced into the federal parliament to restrict the rights of industrial subcontractors, particularly in the transport and building industries.

Jim Green, Adelaide The federal government has been forced to abandon its six-year push to build a national nuclear waste dump near Woomera in South Australia. Polling had shown that the issue could swing marginal seats in South Australia against

3 Afghan community discusses women's rights SYDNEY — Most women in Afghanistan are no better off since the country was "liberated" by the United States two years ago, Afghan academic Dr Nazir Gul told a packed hall on March 20. The

Alex Bainbridge, Hobart The Recherche Bay Protection Group held a commemoration on October 28 for the 250th anniversary of the birth of French botanist Jacques-Julian Houtou de Labillardiere. The group used the occasion to call once again on the

Kamala Emanuel, Hobart Workers at Tasmania's two casinos will stop work on July 14 in Launceston and on July 15 in Hobart, to consider their response to Federal Hotels' latest pay offer. This follows a resumption of negotiations with the Liquor,

SYDNEY — Forty Socialist Alliance members marched in the 25th annual Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras Parade behind a banner reading "Medicare not warfare". The parade, held on March 6, was observed by at least 250,000 people, despite constant

CANBERRA — On October 27, 100 people attended a public forum at the Australian National Library on the federal government's planned new anti-terrorism laws. Organised by Civil Liberties Australia ACT, the forum was told by the group's secretary

Marcus Pabian, Melbourne On March 4, 600 rural residents from three shires converged in front of the Victorian parliament to oppose the state Labor government's plans for a toxic waste dump in rural Victoria. On November 12, the state government

Bronwyn Jennings, Geelong Fifty women unionists and community activists attended training sessions at Geelong Trades Hall on October 17, the last in a series organised by the GTH Women's Committee to educate women about the Howard government's