News

Marcus Pabian, Melbourne On March 4, 600 rural residents from three shires converged in front of the Victorian parliament to oppose the state Labor government's plans for a toxic waste dump in rural Victoria. On November 12, the state government

GEELONG — On July 24, 200 people jeered PM John Howard as he arrived to attend a meet-and-greet in Bannockburn, a small rural town 22 kilometres north-west of Geelong. The protesters, including trade unionists, environmentalists, pensioners,

Australian Electoral Commission figures released on February 1 show that in 2004-05 the Pharmacy Guild and pharmaceutical companies increased their donations to the NSW Labor government by almost $150,000, giving six times more than in the previous

Norman Brewer, Sydney "TJ had 17 years. We have the rest of our lives to never forget him. We have to remember TJ, we have to remember all the deaths at the hands of the [state]", Redfern community leader Jenny Munro told a 550-strong memorial

Kathy Newnam, Darwin At a November 23 public forum, 50 people heard three Medical Association for the Prevention of War members challenge the myth that the Lucas Heights nuclear reactor in Sydney is necessary on medical grounds. Dr Peter Tait

PERTH — Three women set off from Perth on July 11 to cross the Nullarbor on foot and deliver a message against racism to Canberra. Jane Paterson (70), Kathryn Newmar (62) and Pam Morris (74) will be armed with petitions, to be completed by people

Selena Black, Melbourne The Northern Anti-Nuclear Alliance (NANA) has launched a campaign in the Batman electorate against Labor MP Martin Ferguson's support for increasing uranium mining in Australia. According to a January 25 Friends of the

Sarah Stephen Immigration minister Amanda Vanstone is feeling the pressure of public opposition to children in detention. So the government is quietly releasing them, one by one. Over the past 12 months, the number of asylum-seekers under 18

SYDNEY — On November 4, 50 people rallied outside the electorate office of federal Liberal MP Jackie Kelly in the western suburb of Penrith to protest against the Howard government's planned new IR laws. Members of the manufacturing and

Sam Wainwright Thirty-six seafarers employed on the chemical carrier MT Stolt Australia who were facing the sack won a victory on July 14, when their employer signed a memorandum of understanding with the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA). On

Sue Bolton, Melbourne The WorkChoices legislation was rammed through federal parliament just before Christmas and is due to be enacted on March 29. Many unionists believe that the union movement needs a national stoppage to signal to employers

Women students conference planned LISMORE — Organising is well underway for the annual Network of Women Students Australia (NOWSA) conference, to be held at Southern Cross University on July 12-16. The theme "Women making it real" has been chosen