News

Protesters picket Liberal gala

Protesters picket Liberal gala By Chris Richards SYDNEY — Approximately 40 protesters picketed a Liberal Party gala on November 14 to protest against the Liberals and the Jabiluka uranium mine. The gala, held at Fox Studio, was to celebrate the

Pub promotes racist, sexist performer

Pub promotes racist, sexist performer By Zanny Begg BRISBANE — On November 6, the show at the Wickham Hotel, promoted as Brisbane's "premier gay dance venue", was disrupted by a protest against sexism and racism. Holding placards which read

Rally against nuclear ships

By William Thomas HOBART — About 200 people attended a November 14 rally outside parliament to protest against the presence of the US nuclear aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln, visiting Hobart on its way back from the Persian Gulf. The rally was

New BHP steel agreement

New BHP steel agreement By Andrew Hall WOLLONGONG — A small proportion of the 5000 workers at BHP's Port Kembla steelworks met on November 6 and endorsed a new three-year steel agreement. The agreement "reflects a commitment by the company,

Hunger strikers protest war in Kurdistan

Hunger strikers protest war in Kurdistan By Kerryn Williamsand Arty Titiz MELBOURNE — On November 9, Kurdish women here began a hunger strike on the steps of Parliament House to protest against the war on the Kurdish people by the Turkish

Jabiluka campaign debates perspectives and plans national day of action

Jabiluka campaign debates perspectives and plans national day of action By Pip Hinman Discussion around a controversial set of new perspectives proposed for the anti-Jabiluka mine campaign by the Gundjehmi Aboriginal Corporation (GAC) is

MUA-Fluor Daniel deal criticised

MUA-Fluor Daniel deal criticised By Susan Priceand Ben Reid MELBOURNE — News of the agreement between the Maritime Union of Australia (MUA) and contractor Fluor Daniel has caused uproar among unionists. The agreement, which entails substantial

News briefs

CFMEU organiser jailed PERTH — On November 4, Construction, Forestry, Mining and Energy Union state assistant secretary Joe McDonald was arrested for trespass at Woodside Petroleum's project in North Fremantle. McDonald was refused entry to the

Who dies, where?

By Melanie Sjoberg I have a longstanding argument with one of my brothers about the incidence of workplace injury. He counters my emphasis on the outrageous statistics of workplace deaths with the notion that if it was really as bad as I claim,

Queensland native title law passed

Queensland native title law passed By Bill Mason BRISBANE — The state Labor government's native title legislation was passed by the Queensland parliament on November 11, granting most of the mining and pastoral industries' demands. The law

Activists discuss the future of unions

Activists discuss the future of unions By Ben Reid MELBOURNE — The re-election of the Howard government threatens to bring in a new period of extensive attacks on workers' rights and trade unions. Seventy people attended a seminar, organised by

Centrelink workers prepare for industrial campaign

Centrelink workers prepare for industrial campaign By Nick Everett BRISBANE — Community and Public Sector Union members around the country will hold stop-work meetings on November 19 to discuss industrial and community action in response to