News

  • 'Godparents of the activist core' take up post in Venezuela

    Adam Baker, Brisbane Since their arrival here in 1987, Jim McIlroy and Coral Wynter have become permanent fixtures in the local activist scene. There has been barely a left or progressive campaign in the last 18 years that has not benefited from

  • Women workers win landmark deal at Sydney Uni

    Kathleen Scott, Sydney After almost 18 months of bargaining and three strikes, University of Sydney staff have secured a landmark agreement that includes one of the best paid maternity packages in the country. Enterprise bargaining at Sydney

  • 'Palestine will be free'

    SYDNEY — Up to 400 people marched from Wiley Park to Lakemba on July 2 in support of a free Palestine and against the latest Israeli offensive. Chants at the protest included "Israel, you will see — Palestine will be free" and "Israel must

  • Engineers discuss social impacts of technology

    MELBOURNE — Engineers cannot ignore the social impact of their work and must take responsibility for it, Monash University professor Don Schauder told 45 engineers and others attending the first Australian meeting of the Society on the Social

  • ETU aims for 36-hour work week

    Marcus Pabian, Melbourne On February 4, an historic mass meeting at the Collingwood Town Hall of 1000 Electrical Trades Union (ETU) stewards from across the industry voted for a sustained state-wide campaign for a 36-hour working week. Improved

  • 'Voluntary student unionism' law takes effect

    Emma Clancy The Howard government's Higher Education Support Amendment (Abolition of Compulsory Up-front Student Union Fees) Act 2005 — also known as the "voluntary student unionism" (VSU) law — came into effect on July 1. The most serious

  • Perth Peace Group forum

    PERTH — On July 30, 130 people attended a forum organised by the Perth Peace Group on the conflicts enveloping the Middle East. The speakers were Carmen Lawrence, federal MP for Fremantle; Dr Simon Adams from Notre Dame University and NoWar

  • Cleaners' rallies target CBD building owners

    Sue Bolton, Melbourne In cities across Australia on June 15, nearly 1000 people joined rallies and marches to demand a "fair deal for cleaners". Rallies were held in Adelaide, Brisbane, Canberra, Darwin, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney. The

  • Call for ban on steel jaw traps

    Call for ban on steel jaw trapsOn November 13, National Anti-Steel Jaw Trap Day, Animal Rescue called for a total ban on traps and snares in Australia. Such a ban exists in 68 other countries. Current laws in Australia

  • Cuba peak-oil film showing

    PERTH — On July 30, 40 people attended a showing in the suburb of Darlington of the film The Power of Community, How Cuba Survived Peak Oil. Organised by the East/Hills branch of the Socialist Alliance, the screening prompted discussion afterwards

  • Rat attack in cat town

    Sue Bull, Geelong Two hundred and fifty trade unionists and supporters chanting "Rats out!" forced the Australian Building and Construction Commission to abandon a planned employers' information session here on June 5. The ABCC, better known as

  • DIMA forced fatal return of refugees

    Kerry Smith On August 7, the Edmund Rice Centre (ERC) released information indicating that up to nine asylum seekers and several of their children were killed upon return to Afghanistan after they were detained on Nauru by the Australian government.