News

  • Bracks sets course to attack unions

    Stuart Martin, Melbourne Amid a howl of calls from employers for Victorian Premier Steve Bracks' Labor government to get tough on unions because the state is supposedly heading into industrial chaos, the government has threatened to wage war on

  • Anti-war group relaunched

    DARWIN — The local No War committee has begun meeting to organise for the March 20 global day of protest against the occupation of Iraq. The rally also will demand a stop to plans for a new US base in the Northern Territory. The rally will be held

  • Victory for victimised guest workers

    A victory BBQ was held in Canberra on February 24 for three Filipino guest workers who spoke out against racist harassment and wage discrimination by their employers in the hospitality industry. The Liquor, Hospitality and Miscellaneous Union

  • Support for train drivers

    SYDNEY — The Socialist Alliance is campaigning in support of train drivers and against the NSW government's destruction of public transport. See the activist calendar on page 23 for details of upcoming campaign events or go to

  • Nauru report 'ridiculous'

    Sarah Stephen The Australian government delegation sent to the Pacific island state of Nauru to assess its health services on January 12-14 released the report of its findings on January 29. The delegation was given narrow terms of reference for

  • Loose cannons

    The Lucky (for some) Country "In just 15 years the average yearly income of some of Australia's most powerful chief executives has risen 564 per cent to $3.4 million, new research shows. Between 1990 and 2005 the average annual regular cash

  • More racist shootings

    Jody Betzien Five men have been charged in the Rockhampton Magistrates Court over the shooting injury of two Aboriginal youths in Rockhampton on January 26, "Australia Day". In separate incidents, a 13-year-old boy and 15-year-old girl are alleged

  • Women students meet

    MELBOURNE — The annual Network of Women Students Australia conference was held at Melbourne University on July 10-14. The national conference brought together more than 60 women students for a week of discussion around the theme "Pushing

  • 'Thought crimes'

    Kim Bullimore, Melbourne On February 24, 35 people attended a legal briefing by Brian Walters, president of Liberty Victoria and lawyer for one of the "Melbourne 10" arrested in the November 8 "terrorism" raids. The meeting was organised by

  • End the war, says visiting Palestinian MP

    Clayton McDonald, Sydney There are 800,000 children under 14 years of age in Gaza, and the sonic booms being deliberately created by low-flying Israeli military aircraft are inflicting psychological damage on these children, Dr Bernard Sabella, a

  • Ballarat uni tries a bribe

    Sue Bull, Ballarat After the defeat by the National Tertiary Education Union (NTEU) last year of two ballots for a non-union enterprise agreement at the University of Ballarat, management resorted to offering Australian Workplace Agreements (AWAs)

  • Toxic materials in 'beauty' products

    Kerry Smith Engineered nanoparticles are being used in virtually every type of personal care product on the market, from sunscreens and anti-aging creams to shampoos and toothpastes, despite preliminary scientific evidence that many types of