News

CANBERRA — A well-attended September 16 press conference here heard plans for a new direction for the ACT branch of the Public Service Union (PSU). In the face of current job losses and union leadership failures, PSU Challenge

PERTH — Young migrants from non-English speaking backgrounds experience an institutionalised racism second only to Aboriginal youth. A report released here confirms that migrant youth experience higher

NSW cleaners continue fight Story and photo by Paul Oboohov SYDNEY — Cleaners employed by the NSW Government Cleaning Service are into their ninth week of a campaign to stop privatisation of state cleaning by the Liberal state

Victorian school closures force drop-outsMELBOURNE — A report released on September 1 has identified serious disruption of students following school closures by the Kennett government. Fifty-five schools were closed

A leaked draft agreement between the federal government and the ACTU on changing industrial law has been heralded by the Australian as a big win for unions. The deal, which includes changes to secondary boycott legislation and

Merv Nixon, 1923-1993 WOLLONGONG — Former South Coast Labour Council secretary and well-known Communist Party identity Merv Nixon died at Bulli Hospital on September 13 after a long battle with illness. Arriving in Wollongong in 1954, the

Inquiry into toxic waste scandalBRISBANE — The Criminal Justice Commission is to launch a public inquiry into large-scale corruption involving illegal dumping of toxic waste in south-east Queensland. The public

Protest over Aboriginal Welfare FundBRISBANE — "Everything has been taken away from us — our rights, our lives. Aboriginal people must take a stand and continue the fight", said Alex Gapter, Aboriginal community

BRISBANE — Oodgeroo Noonuccal, formerly known as Kath Walker, the popular poet and Aboriginal rights activist, died at Greenslopes Hospital on September 16 at the age of 72 after a struggle with cancer.

Green Alliance to stand in SA electionsADELAIDE — Addressing the desperate need for alternative political forces to be standing against both the Labor and Liberal parties, Green Alliance will run a campaign in the

Political science — 1 "If we get up tomorrow at daybreak and Australia has been declared a republic tonight by referendum but with no other change — just a change of name — then there is actually no difference." — Governor-General Bill

Secondary students strikeMELBOURNE — Students from Epping Secondary organised a strike on September 7 against cuts to education. Amidst a sea of anti-Kennett and "No cuts to schools" placards, three-quarters of the school