News

BURNIE — Tasmanian paper giant APPM is continuing to up the ante in its drive to eliminate unions from its large plant here. Among its latest moves is a series of civil writs against union officials, including ACTU president

Talking union A parliamentary inquiry into the status of women has recommended changes to the Affirmative Action Act, including tougher penalties for companies not complying with the act. At present, compliance is voluntary and the stiffest

Aytas coming to SydneySYDNEY — Representatives of the Aytas, an indigenous Philippines tribe who were removed from their ancestral land to make way for the US military bases, will arrive here on May 8. The two, Ben

Rally backs NewnhamBRISBANE — Several hundred people, including many police, rallied in King George Square on May 1 in support of stood-down police commissioner Noel Newnham, recently found guilty of official misconduct and

MELBOURNE — Women have suffered disproportionately as a result of the rise of "law and order politics" in the 1980s, according to the organisers of an upcoming conference on "Women, Imprisonment and Law & Order". Women are

Davidson swings against LiberalsSYDNEY — The Liberal Party won the Davidson by-election on May 2, but not without a backlash from voters showing their disgust with the Nick Greiner government over the Metherell affair.

Transport unions strikeMELBOURNE — The public transport system came to a halt here on April 29 as 2000 rail, bus and tram workers attended a stop-work meeting on a 6% pay claim under the enterprise bargaining provisions

WOLLONGONG — For the first time in living memory, this year's May Day march was led here by women workers, members of the Federated Clerks Union (FCU). This was in keeping with a long-standing South Coast tradition, which gives

Brisbane free speech campaignBRISBANE — Supporters of free speech held a speak-out in the Queen Street Mall on May 1 to oppose city council plans to restrict activities in the area. ALP Lord Mayor Jim Soorley, under

MELBOURNE — Following the decision of the Western Australian government to restrict the distribution of People and Picture magazines to outlets registered for the sale of "adult publications", the Victorian government announced

Melbourne war tax resister Robert Burrowes has had an unusual win in his long campaign against military spending. The Federal Court found him guilty of contempt of court on April 22 - but the judge assessed no penalty against

BRISBANE - Outgoing officials of the Queensland Transport Workers Union awarded themselves pay-outs totalling more than $500,000 just a week before a newly elected administration took control. Some estimates put the amount at