News

SYDNEY — A council-conducted referendum has recorded a 60% vote against NSW government plans to privatise Port Macquarie's public hospital. About 85% of local residents participated in the September 19 vote. The people of

BRISBANE — The state elections on September 19 recorded a 2.7% swing away from the major parties. When counting was completed, 7% of votes were for alternative candidates. Of 89 seats in the state parliament 25 were contested

Nazis try to dupe unemployedSYDNEY — The fascist threat made a daring public appearance last week in Campsie, when an organisation calling itself the Unemployed Peoples Union held a function in this suburb with a vibrantly

DORRIGO — Wild Cattle Creek State Forest on the Dorrigo Plateau in northern NSW is currently the centre of a major dispute between the Wild Cattle Creek Action Group and the Dorrigo Residents and Business Association. On

Chileans march for justiceARICA — On September 11, the 19th anniversary of General Augusto Pinochet's bloody coup, there was an emotional march by 70,000 people to the tomb of Salvador Allende. The action was the start

NSW unionists could face jailWOLLONGONG — South Coast Labour Council secretary Paul Matters has told a combined unions meeting here that he is prepared to go to jail rather than pay any fines imposed by the NSW Industrial

Drop charges against Austudy Five, say unionsMELBOURNE — Several unions have called for charges to be dropped against five protesters arrested following a student demonstration here earlier this year. The Victorian branch

Brown backs 'clean green' candidates MELBOURNE — Victorians would get best value by voting for independents backing small business, local control and "clean green" produce, Tasmanian Green MP Bob Brown said on September 24. Brown spoke at

Debate on reproductive rightsMELBOURNE — About 70 people participated in a September 22 public meeting sponsored by Green Left Weekly on "Reproductive Rights: a question of choice". Resistance organiser and

Socialist candidate wins 9%BRISBANE — In the best vote for an openly socialist campaign here in many years, Susan Price gained 9.2% for the Democratic Socialists in the seat of Brisbane Central on September 19. "I'm

Barbra Q stirs a stormMELBOURNE — Shane Tonks alias drag performer Barbra Quicksand, is running for inner-city Albert Park in the Victorian elections as a gay, independent candidate. His relatively high media profile is

LONDON — Even by its own criteria, the British Tory government is an economic failure. Talkback radio programs have been inundated with questions from a British public still in a daze from four changes to