News

Kathy Newnam, Darwin Following discussions on June 5 between defence minister Robert Hill and US defence secretary Donald Rumsfeld, the plan for a joint US-Australia military facility in northern Australia has been officially placed on the agenda

Paul Oboohov, Canberra In a typical barnstorming media stunt, ALP federal leader Kim Beazley breezed into the tea room of the Action bus depot in Belconnen on March 29 and let rip, vowing to tear up the Coalition government's new industrial

#1 Timor benefit concert BRISBANE — Several hundred people crowded into the No 12 Lounge Bar in Fortitude Valley on September 9 for the "Dem Belly Full?" benefit concert for East Timor. The event was sponsored by the Roots 'n' All Foundation

#1 Teachers endorse further action SYDNEY — On June 2, 98% of teachers at Sky Channel-linked meetings across NSW voted in favour of further industrial action if the state government fails to fund a salaries increase from outside the existing

Nick Everett, Canberra On March 24, ACT teachers agreed to postpone industrial action planned for this week after ACT education minister Katy Gallagher referred their pay dispute to the Industrial Relations Commission (IRC) for conciliation. This

Simon Butler, Newcastle The mining division of the Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union (CFMEU) has welcomed the August 9 conviction of the companies and individuals responsible for events that led to the tragic deaths of four coal

Philippa Skinner NSW Premier Bob Carr is attempting to introduce legislation to counter a victory won by protests opposing filming of the movie Stealth in the Blue Mountains National Park, a world heritage area. In late April, the NSW Land and

PORT MACQUARIE — On March 5, 60 people attended a screening of David Bradbury's new documentary Blowin' in the Wind, which focusses on the use by the US military of depleted uranium munitions. The DVD showing raised funds for Amnesty

Working stiffs, as always "Most rich people are able to avoid taxes, and if you can't raise enough money from taxing the rich, guess who pays the taxes?" — Emperor George Bush II, August 11, defending his tax policy. Land of opportunity "The

Howard chased off campus CANBERRA — Prime Minister John Howard's attempt to launch the Coalition's new policy on research and development funding at the CSIRO on May 6 was gatecrashed by 150 angry students and activists from the Australian

Pip Hinman, Sydney "The August 8 statement by 43 former service chiefs and diplomats, accusing PM John Howard of lying about the reasons for Australia going to war on Iraq, underlines what most Australians already know", Anna Samson from Sydney's

Shua Garfield, Hobart Sixty people heard Cecilio Freitas, chair of East Timor People's Action, and Greens senators Bob Brown and Kerry Nettle speak at an April 26 forum on "oil and self-determination: Iraq and East Timor". The meeting was organised