News

Asia-Pacific workers' conferenceMELBOURNE — Twenty-two leading trade unionists and labour researchers from the Asia-Pacific region will participate in the "Workers Change the World" conference here from September 29 to

Quarantine sackings despite anthrax outbreakCANBERRA — Federal budget plans to slash quarantine staff are to go ahead despite the outbreak of anthrax in Queensland. The cuts mean that some 30% of the Australian Quarantine

Garbos oppose redundancy dealBRISBANE — Three hundred garbos rallied at King George Square on September 22 to protest against a redundancy deal being offered by the Brisbane City Council. Eighty out of three hundred

One of Australia's leading jazz musicians, Vince Jones, has condemned the logging of East Gippsland's old growth forests. What the so-called selective logging really amounts to, he told Green Left Weekly, is mass destruction. And

Amcor monopoly threatens Victorian forests MELBOURNE — National Wilderness Society spokesperson Georgie Stewart, speaking here on September 16, said that Amcor's success in establishing a monopoly on the production of higher grade papers in

ACT teachers to strikeCANBERRA — Three thousand members of the Australian Education Union (formerly Australian Teachers Union) voted at a stop-work meeting here on September 23 to strike for a full day on October 28 in

MELBOURNE — In November, thousands of long-term injured workers will be pushed from Victoria's WorkCover scheme onto Social Security benefits. Before then, thousands more will be encouraged to jump with lump sum pay-outs of up

MELBOURNE — One year after the election of a Liberal government, Victorians are facing a worsening standard of living. Official unemployment is 13%, and in some areas youth unemployment is 40%. Premier Jeff Kennett is

Boycott Mitsubishi campaign launched The Rainforest Information Centre and the Environmental Youth Alliance launched the Australian Boycott Mitsubishi campaign on September 24. The "Mitsubishi Challenge" National Basketball League will be

Phhew! "Queen: I will accept republic." — Headline in Sydney Morning Herald after King Paul's meeting with Queen Liz. Name two, please "I did build many, many things, and people forget to mention them." — Bankrupt entrepreneur Alan Bond,

A report commissioned by treasurer John Dawkins has called on the Federal Government to abolish the award system and to end trade union monopoly rights in enterprise bargaining. Written by the Industry Commission (the federal

BRISBANE — Aksi and other concerned groups protested on September 24 against the Warana festival's theme of "Celebrate Indonesia". The protest highlighted the Suharto regime's suppression of democratic rights and independence struggles in East