News

  • Loose cannons

    Ay, there's the point! "The Commonwealth Ombudsman, Ms Philippa Smith, is highly critical of the Government's decision to slash up to 30 per cent from her budget, saying it will compromise her capacity to scrutinise government agencies." —

  • Outcry after Pinkenba Six let off

    BRISBANE — The decision to place the "Pinkenba Six" police officers on probation after an internal inquiry into their dumping of three Aboriginal boys at Pinkenba in May 1994 has been denounced by civil libertarians and the

  • NSW teachers strike for wages and conditions

    SYDNEY — In a historic united action, NSW teachers from state schools, TAFE colleges, independent schools and Catholic schools are set to strike on April 23. The central demand of the strike is for a 12%

  • Calls for inquiries into uranium mining

    Four major environment organisations have called for an inquiry into uranium mining in Kakadu National Park. The Australian Conservation, the Wilderness Society, Friends of the Earth and the Environment Centre of the Northern

  • SA to see 'confidential' contract

    ADELAIDE — The South Australian parliament may take a step towards public accountability following a decision by the upper house to view details of contracts related to outsourcing. Last year, in a deal worth $700 million,

  • Tax office closures, redundancies

    MELBOURNE — The Australian Tax Office (ATO) has announced plans to close all but two of its regional offices. Regional offices are smaller offices located mainly in rural areas. Staff in these offices have been given the choice of

  • ACT Greens move to lower voting age

    On April 17, ACT Green MLA Kerrie Tucker moved in the ACT Legislative Assembly to lower the voting age from 18 to 16 in the ACT. The Greens' move, the first attempt in Australia to introduce such legislation, is supported by

  • Rallies against racism

    BRISBANE — About 50 people attended a picket against racism outside the office of the federal minister for Aboriginal Affairs on April 16. The picket was called by members of the Community and Public Sector Union and endorsed by 20

  • A conference of war

    While the Indonesian military regularly massacres dissidents in West Papua, East Timor and Aceh, and the PNG military is fighting a war against the people of Bougainville to defend the interests of Australian capital, Australian policy is to support

  • ACT wage agreements

    CANBERRA — On April 3, 400 public servants met to endorse an in-principle agreement reached with the ACT government by the Community and Public Sector Union, and to end their industrial action. The agreement consists of a 10.1% pay

  • Geelong workers' strike solid

    GEELONG — The E.P. Robinson Pty Ltd plant here is an amazing sight. There are glass panels missing from the skylights; a number of others are slipping. More than one worker has narrowly missed being hit by a falling panel. When

  • Cape York alliance to defy Borbidge

    BRISBANE A landmark Cape York agreement between Aborigines, conservationists and pastoralists will go ahead, regardless of the opposition of Queensland Premier Rob Borbidge, according to Noel Pearson, Cape York Land Council executive