News

  • Loose cannons

    Struggling "We found no problems selling in the $5000-$30,000 price range, but above $50,000 it was a struggle." — Melbourne auctioneer after a recent art auction met a "subdued response" from buyers. Take him! He's yours! "We are nostalgic

  • 24 hours in Chaelundi State Forest

    Story and photos by David Brazil New South Wales forests are going up in smoke. Up and down the north coast, bush fire brigades and the Forestry Commission are going though their ritual of winter burn-off. At Chaelundi, in the name of forest

  • WA Aborigines oppose mine

    WA Aborigines oppose minePERTH — Aboriginal people in the Eastern Goldfields area are opposing the proposed Yakabindie Nickel Project, a Dominion Mining operation approved by the state in 1990. Approval for the mine

  • Queer Notion outing

    SYDNEY — Queer Notion, an organisation in the gay and lesbian community here, conducted an "outing" at a press conference opposite St Mary's cathedral on August 21. "Outing only works as a political weapon because there is a stigma attached to a

  • Mall fines raised: 'Attack on free speech'

    BRISBANE — The Labor-controlled Brisbane City Council has massively increased fines for breaches of the repressive Queen Street Mall Act, introduced by the Bjelke-Petersen government in 1983. Fines under the act have been raised

  • Parliament House staff fight for jobs

    Parliament House staff fight for jobsCANBERRA — Catering staff at Parliament House have set up a picket in an effort to protect their jobs and working conditions. Catering services are being privatised. Workers have been told

  • Sarawak rainforest

    To chants of "Save Chaelundi; save Sarawak; stop the logging now", about 100 people marched from Sydney Town Hall and through city streets on August 17. Participants later heard Dean Geoffrey speak about the struggle of the Penan people to save the

  • Another protester jailed in Sarawak

    Another protester jailed in SarawakGold Coast environmental activist Anja Light has joined Australian Nancy Rolfe and six other protesters from four countries in a Malaysian jail after being found guilty of criminal trespass. She

  • Liberal wants youth work camps

    Liberal wants youth work camps By Catherine Gough-Brady ADELAIDE — Peter Lewis, Liberal member for the state seat of Murray-Mallee, is proposing compulsory back-to-nature work camps for unemployed youth. Claiming there has been "a drop in

  • Wallsend closure protested

    Wallsend closure protested NEWCASTLE — For the second time, thousands turned out to protest against the proposed closure of Wallsend Hospital, near here. Union banners, hospital flags and solidarity signs were carried by the 10,000 protesters on

  • Opposition to Newstart grows

    BRISBANE — Newstart "agreements" being forced on long-term unemployed people could include references to matters such as medical treatment, dress, appearance and body weight, Social Security Minister Graham

  • A different budget; yes, it is possible

    The latest national account figures confirm that Australia is still deep in recession. Gross domestic product over the 12 months to June contracted by 0.9%, and unemployment is set to continue at around 10% well into next year. Yet