News

No conscience vote The ALP, the Liberal Party, the Australian Democrats and the Australian Greens all allow their members a conscience vote on abortion, regardless of the policy of the party. The Democratic Socialist Party has a clear

Pray for a job "It is essentially an act of faith that the Jobs Compact will improve the job prospects of the participants." — Professor Judith Sloan, of the National Institute of Labour Studies, on the government's green paper on

ADELAIDE — Chris White, assistant secretary of the United Trades and Labour Council, has expressed concern at the dramatically increased powers of the industrial relations minister under a bill currently before state

Melbourne rally in solidarityMELBOURNE — The national day of action against black deaths in custody on April 20 was marked here with a rally at the Queensland government travel centre. More than 100 people gathered to express

Telecom halts work at old brewery sitePERTH — Telecom has halted cable-laying at the old Swan Brewery site. The brewery, built on Aboriginal religious ground in the 1890s and virtually given to Multiplex Constructions

Plant ownership laws under review The Plant Breeders Rights (PBR) Bill 1994, which is to replace the Plant Variety Rights (PVR) Act 1987, is now open for public review. The name change signals a general shift in focus and intent, according

Squatters resist evictionBRISBANE — A group of young unemployed and homeless squatters have barricaded themselves inside an abandoned West End Housing Commission house to prevent the state government evicting them.

1800 teaching jobs in limboADELAIDE — Secrecy and denial surround the claim that the state Liberal government is planning to cut 1800 jobs in education. This would break a pre-election promise that there would be no

More subtle these days "A quarter of a century ago the Australians who came here came in battle dress. They now come dressed for business." — Prime Minister Keating in Vietnam. Mystery "The resignations of cabinet members Graham Richardson

ADELAIDE — "Let's get angry about racism; let's also get angry about the public service cuts and unemployment that cause racism." These were the words of Frank Barbero of the Ethnic Communities Association, speaking to a

Law and order in the wild westPERTH — The Court government faces another embarrassment for its law and order campaign with the revelation that Tactical Response Group officer Dan Donegan has been charged with assault

School staff work to rulePERTH — School support staff in Western Australia have begun a work-to-rule campaign to pressure the state government to increase the allocation for staff in the next budget. With the